U.S. refineries have been running at very high rates in 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration · Published
Official release
The U.S. refinery fleet has run at higher-than-normal rates this year, with refinery utilization averaging more than 95% of capacity between May and September, the highest for those months since 1998. Tight global product supplies this year have boosted margins for petroleum products, particularly for diesel, incentivizing the increased run rates.
In July 2026, U.S. imports of crude oil from Venezuela averaged 701,000 barrels per day (b/d), the most since May 2017, before decreasing to 655,000 b/d in August, according to data published in our Petroleum Supply Monthly
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Particularly high refinery margins for distillate fuel oil and jet fuel have contributed to shifts in the refinery yields of major products in 2026. Data from our latest Petroleum Supply Monthly—which includes data through August 2026—indicate refinery yields of gasoline have decreased significantly this year to support increased production of distillate fuel oil and jet fuel, sometimes referred to as middle distillates due to
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Match the bond series, redemption route, units and observation window before comparing a Sovereign Gold Bond payout. A practical guide to reading the official notice.
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