April was strong for both oil production and refining, with production breaking a 26-year record, the American Petroleum Institute reported. said U.S. crude production for April was close to 8.3 million barrels per day, a 12.6 percent increase year-on-year and the highest level for any April since 1988. For the refining sector, API said gross inputs and exports of refined products grew 5.1 percent compared to last April to 16.1 million bpd. Total U.S. petroleum deliveries, which API uses as an indication of demand, rose 2.3 percent year-on-year to close to 19 bpd, the highest level for any April since 2010. “April brought strong year-over-year growth in both the production and refining sectors,” API Chief Economist John Felmy said in a statement Thursday. “The oil and natural gas industry continues to provide a solid base for growth in the larger economy.” API said more consumers […]