---
title: "US Crude Stockpiles Fall More Than Expected: API"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286981659.md"
description: "US crude oil inventories fell by 9.10 million barrels for the week ending May 15, 2026, surpassing expectations of a 3.4 million-barrel draw. Gasoline inventories dropped by 5.80 million barrels, while distillate inventories fell by 1.00 million barrels. Cushing inventories decreased by 1.40 million barrels, and the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve saw a record drawdown of 9.90 million barrels, reaching its lowest level since July 2024."
datetime: "2026-05-20T00:19:37.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286981659.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286981659.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286981659.md)
---

# US Crude Stockpiles Fall More Than Expected: API

US crude oil inventories fell by 9.10 million barrels in the week ended May 15, 2026, according to the American Petroleum Institute, sharply exceeding expectations for a 3.4 million-barrel draw and following a 2.19 million-barrel decline in the previous week.

Despite the weekly draw, total crude stocks are still up 26 million barrels year-to-date.

Gasoline inventories dropped by 5.80 million barrels after a 0.50 million-barrel build in the prior week, while distillate inventories fell by 1.00 million barrels, extending recent declines amid already tight seasonal levels.

Cushing inventories, the WTI delivery hub, decreased by 1.40 million barrels over the reporting period.

The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve recorded a record weekly drawdown of 9.90 million barrels, bringing total SPR stocks to 374.2 million barrels, the lowest since July 2024.

### Related Stocks

- [OXY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/OXY.US.md)
- [BNO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BNO.US.md)
- [IEZ.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IEZ.US.md)
- [IXC.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IXC.US.md)
- [XES.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XES.US.md)
- [AMLP.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AMLP.US.md)
- [USO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/USO.US.md)
- [XLE.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XLE.US.md)
- [OIH.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/OIH.US.md)
- [XOP.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XOP.US.md)
- [IYE.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IYE.US.md)
- [UCO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/UCO.US.md)
- [VDE.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/VDE.US.md)
- [CRAK.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/CRAK.US.md)
- [MLPX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MLPX.US.md)
- [SCO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SCO.US.md)
- [IEO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IEO.US.md)

## Related News & Research

- [US crude and gasoline inventories fell last week, distillates rose, EIA says](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286281890.md)
- [IEA chief Birol: commercial oil inventories depleting rapidly, only weeks left](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286746172.md)
- [Record oil draw from US emergency reserve drives total volumes to two-year low](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286821970.md)
- [UK wage growth steady as oil shocks fuel inflation risks](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286923864.md)
- [US energy firms pull record amounts of crude from SPR last week, EIA says](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286284024.md)