Washington DC, June 25 -- American commercial crude oil inventories declined during the week ending June 19, even as crude oil imports increased and refinery operations remained at high levels, according to data released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The EIA said commercial crude oil inventories, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, decreased by 6.1 million barrels to 412.1 million barrels during the week. Inventory levels were 7 per cent below the five-year average for this time of the year.

It stated, "Commercial crude oil inventories (excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) decreased by 6.1 million barrels".

According to the report, US refineries processed 17.1 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil...