Refinery utilization rates surged to 93.3%—the highest level in four months—driving the decline in crude stockpiles. Simultaneously, total motor gasoline inventories rose by 2.4 million barrels from the previous week, reaching 214.6 million barrels.
China’s manufacturing sector recorded its fastest growth since April, marking its second consecutive month of expansion. This resurgence has bolstered expectations for increased fuel demand from the world's second-largest oil consumer.
The month’s growth was driven mostly by demand for intermediate goods—suggesting that a slew of monetary and fiscal policies released in recent months had been effective at bolstering manufacturing confidence.