Saudi Arabia’s crude exports to the United States fell sharply in September as U.S. oil refiners began seasonal maintenance that has allowed crude inventories to rise, data from Refinitiv Eikon and shipping intelligence firm Kpler show. A slowdown in Saudi shipments marks a return to lower levels of crude exports into the U.S., where the Kingdom has sent fewer barrels since mid-2017, while focusing on Asian buyers. “We’re coming up in September and October on some pretty substantial crude (refinery) shutdowns,” one trader said. “What (processors) don’t want is to have their tanks chock-a-block when they’re in shutdown.” U.S. refineries had an estimated 1.42 million barrels per day (bpd) of capacity offline this week, up from 322,000 bpd a month ago, according to data provider IIR Energy. U.S. crude stocks rose by 8 million barrels last week to 404 million barrels, the U.S. Department of Energy […]