The US Energy Information Administration said that US refiners adjusted their operations on the changing demand for petroleum products. According to the agency, US refineries produced more distillate fuel oil while reducing motor gasoline and jet fuel output after the demand for the two fuels plummeted since late March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting in early April, refiners lowered overall refinery runs to respond to weak transportation fuels consumption. During the month, refinery runs were 22% lower than last year’s average of 17.0 million bpd. Inputs to distillation units were also 21% lower than the 2019 average.
Motor gasoline, distillate fuel oil, and jet fuel generally contribute to the largest part of US refineries’ production. The average yields for motor gasoline in 2019 were the largest, at 46%, followed by distillate fuel oil (30%) and jet fuel (10%). In April, distillate fuel oil yields in the US increased to a record 38%.
EIA said that in April, gasoline-producing catalytic crackers were operated less than other downstream units, such as catalytic reformers, catalytic hydrocrackers, and cokers. US catalytic crackers processed 30% less fresh feed in April 2020 compared to a year earlier. Meanwhile, the combined feed consumption of the other three types downstream fell by 20% over the same period.
