Oil inventories decline but miss forecast, signaling mixed demand in Oil & Companies News 13/05/2026 The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released its latest data on U.S. crude oil inventories, revealing a decline in stock levels that fell short of market expectations. According to the API, crude oil inventories decreased by 2.188 million barrels. This figure contrasts with the anticipated decline of 1.650 million barrels, indicating a larger-than-expected drawdown in crude supplies. However, when comparing the current data to the previous report, the decline in crude oil inventories appears less pronounced. In the preceding week, inventories saw a substantial decrease of 8.100 million barrels. The current drawdown, while still significant, suggests a deceleration in the reduction of crude stockpiles. The API’s weekly report provides crucial insights into the dynamics of U.S. petroleum demand and supply. A larger-than-expected decrease in inventories typically indicates stronger demand, which can be bullish for crude prices. Conversely, a smaller-than-expected decline may suggest weaker demand, exerting bearish pressure on prices. In this instance, the actual inventory reduction, while greater than forecasted, is significantly less than the previous week’s decline, offering a mixed signal to the market. Market analysts and investors closely monitor these inventory levels, as they provide a snapshot of the balance between supply and demand in the oil market. The latest data suggests that while demand may be stronger than initially anticipated, it has not reached the levels observed in the previous reporting period. As the oil market continues to navigate geopolitical uncertainties and fluctuating demand patterns, the API’s inventory data remains a critical tool for stakeholders seeking to gauge the health and direction of the U.S. oil industry. The latest figures, while indicating a drawdown, leave room for interpretation regarding the underlying strength of demand in the current economic climate. Source: Investing.com 2026-05-13 hellenicshippingnews... window.___gcfg = {lang: 'en-US'}; (function(w, d, s) { function go(){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], load = function(url, id) { if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.src = url; js.id = id; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }; load('//connect.facebook.net/en/all.js#xfbml=1', 'fbjssdk'); load('https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js', 'gplus1js'); load('//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js', 'tweetjs'); } if (w.addEventListener) { w.addEventListener("load", go, false); } else if (w.attachEvent) { w.attachEvent("onload",go); } }(window, document, 'script')); tweet Share