US commercial crude inventories rose by 17.422 million barrels to 424.4 million barrels in the week ended August 7, marking the biggest weekly build since January 2023 and sharply diverging from expectations for a draw. The increase came as imports rose and exports fell, with stocks excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve standing about 2% below the five-year average for this time of year. Earlier figures in the existing report showed stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub increased by 1.768 million barrels, net U.S. crude imports climbed by 1.768 million barrels per day, and refinery crude runs rose by 26 thousand barrels per day. Gasoline inventories fell by 0.968 million barrels to 208.7 million barrels, while distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, were little changed at 107.2 million barrels.