Fact Check: Is the US down to just 41 days of crude oil inventory?

WASHINGTON, DC: A claim circulating online says the US has only 41 days of crude oil inventory left, the lowest level in half a century. The claim has gained attention as concerns grow over global oil supplies and disruptions linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. The figure has also raised fears that the US could soon face a serious oil shortage. Let's fact-check the claim.

Claim: US has just 41 days of crude oil inventory

The post was shared on X by a user named Megatron, who wrote, “BREAKING: The U.S. has just 41 days of crude oil inventory left.”

The post also claimed that this was “the lowest level in half a century.” It has received more than 570,000 views, with several users sharing and commenting on it.

The claim comes as the US uses its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to respond to a major disruption in global oil supplies.

The conflict involving Iran, which began in late February 2026, has disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global crude oil supplies. 

Shipping through the area has remained restricted for months, putting pressure on the global oil market.

In response, the Trump administration authorized the release of up to 172 million barrels from the SPR as part of a broader release coordinated with the International Energy Agency. 

The releases have reduced the reserve from about 415 million barrels before the conflict to roughly 289 million to 293 million barrels recently. That is the lowest level since 1982.

Fact Check: The claim is false

The claim is misleading. The US has not literally been reduced to 41 days of crude oil. The figure comes from a calculation based on the country’s crude oil inventories compared with its rate of consumption. It does not mean the US will run out of oil in 41 days.

The claim also needs context because the US has several sources of oil supply. In addition to stored crude, the country continues to produce oil domestically and import crude from other countries. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is also only one part of the country’s overall oil supply.

The concern behind the claim is real. The SPR has fallen to its lowest level since 1982 after the US released large amounts of oil in response to supply disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran and restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz. However, describing the situation as having only “41 days of crude oil inventory left” gives a misleading impression of how US oil supplies work.