The overall petroleum demand in the United States jumped in July to the highest level in three years, said a leading industry group in a report released Thursday.
The total petroleum deliveries, a measure of demand, rose 1.7 percent in July from a year ago to average 18.9 million barrels per day, said the American Petroleum Institute (API) in its monthly report.
"The summer travel season brought greater demand for several fuel types last month than we've seen in recent years," said API chief economist John Felmy, adding that "on the supply side, we produced more domestic crude last month than at any other point in the last 22 years."
In July, gasoline deliveries edged up to average 9.0 million barrels per day, but still the second lowest July level in 13 years.
In contrast, U.S. domestic crude oil production in July increased 17.4 percent from a year earlier to average 7.5 million barrels per day, marking the highest July level in 25 years. This was above 7.0 million barrels per day for the ninth consecutive month and the highest output of any month in the past 22 years.
With the surging domestic energy production, imports of crude oil and refined products in July averaged 9.7 million barrels per day, the lowest July level in 18 years. It also marked the fourth time this year for the total imports below 10.0 million barrels per day.
API represents more than 500 oil and natural gas companies which supply most of the energy consumed in the United States and support an estimated 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy.
