The American Petroleum Institute (API), a national trade association, reported that in July, U.S. petroleum deliveries rose 1.3% higher than they had been in July 2013. Last month, almost 19.3 million barrels a day (MMbbl/d) was the average for deliveries, which are a measure of demand, API said on Aug. 21.

“Last month generated new records for many of the petroleum statistics we track,” said John Felmy, chief economist with API.

“Refinery gross inputs, gasoline production, distillate production and exports of refined products all set new highs for the month of July. On the other side of the equation, imports of crude oil and refined products set multidecade lows for the month,” he added.

From July 2013 to July 2014, gasoline demand gained 1%, to average 9.1 MMbbl/d, while demands for distillate and “other oils” increased 6.6% and 5.5%, respectively, API reported. .

Through July, domestic crude production rose 13.9% from July 2013, to average almost 8.5 MMbbl/d, API said, noting that this was the “highest July output level since 1986.”

In July, total imports decreased by 11.6% from July 2013, to average 9.1 MMbbl/d. Crude oil imports averaged 7.5 MMbbl/d on a 7.2% drop from July 2013. “Both figures represent a 19-year low for the month of July,” API said. In July, refined product imports fell 28% from last year, to the “lowest July imports level in 33 years” at just under 1.6 MMbbl/d, API added.

Regarding production, gasoline production averaged 9.9 MMbbl/d in July. This was up 6.6% from July 2013, API said.

Crude oil stocks ended at 363.9 MMbbl, motor gasoline stocks ended at 213.6 MMbbl, and distillate, jet fuel and “other oils” stocks were all down from year ago levels, API said.

API is based in Washington, D.C.