The United States’ crude oil supply buffer has contracted to just 43 days of refinery input, according to new calculations from Bank of America Global Research.
This figure represents the shortest safety margin in decades, underscoring the vulnerability of the domestic energy infrastructure to external shocks.
5 million barrels, marking its lowest point since April 1983, before recent fluctuations.
The tightening buffer coincides with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) falling to its lowest level since May 1983.
Department of Energy data shows the reserve now holds approximately 325.7 million barrels, a significant drawdown from historical norms.
The SPR had previously dipped to around 316.5 million barrels, marking its lowest point since April 1983, before recent fluctuations.
This structural shift in US energy reserves alters the risk premium embedded in global oil markets.
With the government’s emergency stockpile depleted, the market relies more heavily on commercial inventories and immediate production capacity to absorb supply disruptions.