The U.S. West Coast is expected to import 120,000 barrels per day of gasoline and blending components for the remainder of this month, up from 95,000 bpd in the first part of April, Bloomberg reports , citing “near-record” gasoline import levels for this time of year based on data from Vortexa. With the summer season looming and all indications that high gasoline prices will not be suppressing driving demand in the coming months, combined with cuts due to refinery maintenance season require additional stockpiles. Inventories on the West Coast are now below the five-year average for this season, according to Bloomberg. Asia accounted for some 60% of the uptick in April gasoline imports to the U.S. West Coast. Americans have been paying politically dangerous high prices at the gas pumps since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions. Today’s national average at the pump is $4.120, according to AAA […]