U.S. crude oil and fuel stocks rise - EIA

NEW YORK, Nov 12 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil stockpiles rose more than expected last week on higher imports and lower refinery utilization, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration weekly data issued Thursday.

Commercial crude stocks in the United States rose 1.8 million barrels to 337.7 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 6 versus analysts' projections stocks would be up by 600,000 barrels only.

Imports of crude rose by 530,000 barrels per day, according to the report which was issued a day later than usual due to Wednesday's U.S. Veterans Day holiday.

Trade group American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday reported domestic crude stocks rose last week by a more-than-forecast 1.2 million barrels as imports rebounded. [API/S]

Stocks of distillates, which include diesel and heating oil, logged a surprise rise of 300,000 barrels to 167.7 million barrels last week, EIA said, counter to expectations they would be 700,000 barrels lower.

Gasoline inventories were up 2.5 million barrels at 210.8 million barrels, EIA said, versus forecasts for an unchanged reading.

Crude runs, or domestic refiner demand for crude oil, dropped by 145,000 bpd to 13.83 million bpd as refinery utilization fell 0.7 percentage point to 79.9 percent of capacity, versus expectations of a 0.2 percentage point rise.

API had said U.S. distillate inventories posted a surprise gain of 640,000 barrels last week while gasoline inventories were up 1.4 million barrels. [API/S] (Reporting by Haitham Haddadin; Editing by John Picinich)