Why Record Crude Output Can’t Solve America’s Diesel Crisis

The United States is producing more crude oil than ever. According to the Energy Information Administration, U.S. crude production is on track to average a record 13.8 million barrels per day in 2026, surpassing the previous record set last year. Yet diesel prices recently climbed to record highs, while distillate inventories remain unusually low. The EIA expects those inventories to stay below the five-year range through much of 2027, with stocks falling below 100 million barrels for the first time in more than two decades. At first glance, that seems contradictory. If the United States has more oil than ever,…