Fort McMurray wildfire blamed for lowest level of domestic crude arriving at Canadian refineries since 1973

Canadian refineries received less domestic crude in May than any month inthe previous43 years,according to Statistics Canada, which attributesthe dramatic drop to the FortMcMurraywildfire.

Refineryreceipts of domestic crude fell to a mere 3.2 million cubic metres in May, the lowest monthly level since April 1973.

That's down 31.8 per cent from May 2015.

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The two provinces with the most refining activity reported the largest declines inreceipts of domestic crude, withAlberta refineries down40.7 per centand Ontario refineries down36.9 per cent.

At the same time, monthlycrude oil imports increased13 per cent, year over year,to3.4million cubic metres.

"Imports accounted for51.1 per centof total crude oil received at refineries in Canada in May, compared with an average of32.6 per centover the previous12months," Statistics Canada said in a release.