Regan Brown
Russia is one of many countries that supply oil and natural gas to the United States. In 2021, the US imported about 0.7% as much crude oil from Russia as it produced domestically. Russia was the fourth-biggest exporter of oil to the US, with Canada, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia being the largest exporters. In 2021, Russian gasoline made up about 13% of US imports, making it the third-largest contributor after Canada and the Netherlands. In March 2022, the US government announced a ban on imports of oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal from Russia in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of U.S. crude oil imports from Russia in 2021 | 3% |
| U.S. ranking of Russia as a source of crude oil imports | 4th |
| Number of barrels of crude oil imported from Russia by the U.S. in 2021 | 72 million |
| Percentage of U.S. petroleum imports from Russia in 2021 | 8% |
| Percentage of U.S. crude oil imports from Russia in 2022 | 3% |
| Number of barrels of crude oil imported from Russia by the U.S. in April 2022 | 10.8 million |
| Number of barrels of crude oil imported from Russia by the U.S. in 2021 | 245 million |
| U.S. imports of oil and gas from Russia in 2021 (in dollars) | 4.7 million |
| U.S. imports of petroleum and coal products from Russia in 2021 (in dollars) | 12.8 million |
| Number of barrels of Russian gasoline imported by the U.S. in 2021 | 5 million |
| Number of barrels of heating oil imported from Russia by the U.S. in 2021 | 8.5 million |
| U.S. ban on imports of oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal from Russia | March 8, 2022 |
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What You'll Learn
US imports of Russian crude oil are small
The United States imports a small share of crude oil from Russia. In 2021, Russia accounted for about 3% of US foreign imports of crude oil and about 1% of the US supply overall. In December 2021, Americans imported about 0.7% as much crude oil from Russia as they produced themselves.
Russia is one of dozens of countries that supply oil and natural gas to the United States. In 2021, the US imported just under 40 million barrels a year of finished motor gasoline (used for driving cars) and 104 million barrels of fuel oil distillate (used for heating houses). At about 5 million barrels in 2021, Russian gasoline made up about 13% of US imports, making it the third-largest contributor after Canada (6.7 million) and the Netherlands (5.8 million).
While Russia is a significant supplier of crude oil to the US, its overall contribution to the US energy supply is relatively small. The US energy supply is highly diversified, with about 35% coming from international partners and about 65% produced domestically. In 2021, Russia was the fourth-biggest exporter of oil to the US, sending about 72 million barrels, while Canada, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia were the top three exporters.
In terms of heating oil, Russia is the US's number two supplier, but it is still a distant second to Canada, which supplied 46 million barrels compared to Russia's 8.5 million barrels in 2021. The US also imports petroleum products, such as unfinished oils and fuel oil, from Russia, which are used as supplements to crude oil in the refining process. In 2021, crude oil imports made up 29% of the combined petroleum imports from Russia, while unfinished oils were the largest share at 38%.
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US refineries use Russian unfinished oils and fuel oil
US refineries have increased their imports of unfinished heavy oils from Russia to replace heavy sour crude from Venezuela, which is no longer available for import. Unfinished oils from Russia, such as Mazut-100 fuel oil (M-100), are used as a supplementary refinery input due to their similarities to heavier, high-sulfur crude oil. In 2021, unfinished oils accounted for more than half of the total US petroleum imports from Russia.
The debate around banning Russian crude oil and refinery feedstock imports has intensified due to the Ukraine conflict. On March 8, 2022, President Biden announced a ban on US imports of petroleum, coal, and natural gas from Russia. This ban includes crude oil and petroleum products. However, the Biden administration initially hesitated to implement such a ban, citing concerns about the impact on US refined product prices. Russia is one of the world's largest crude oil producers and exporters, and its exports play a significant role in meeting global demand.
While the US has banned Russian energy imports, other countries continue to be major importers of Russian fossil fuels. As of June 2025, China, India, Turkey, South Korea, and Taiwan are among the top buyers of Russian crude oil and oil products. Additionally, European countries have not banned Russian energy imports and are significant importers. These imports contribute to Russia's export earnings and impact the funding available for its military operations.
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US imported 30 million barrels of fuel from refineries using Russian oil
The US has been trying to cut down on its dependence on Russian oil and gas since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In March 2022, President Biden announced a ban on US imports of petroleum, coal, and natural gas from Russia. However, in the first nine months of 2023, the US imported 30 million barrels of fuel from refineries using Russian oil. This was facilitated by fossil fuel companies including Shell, BP, and Sunoco, who were among the importers bringing this oil to American gas stations. These 30 million barrels were refined using an estimated seven million barrels of Russian crude, mixed with oil from other sources.
The US imports of petroleum products from Russia, including unfinished oils and fuel oil, constitute a larger share than its imports of crude oil from Russia. US refineries use imported unfinished oils and fuel oil as a supplement to crude oil in the refining process. In 2021, Russia accounted for about 3% of US foreign imports of crude oil and about 1% of the US supply overall. In the same year, Russian gasoline made up about 13% of US imports, making Russia the third-largest contributor after Canada and the Netherlands.
In 2021, US imports from Russia included unfinished oils, motor gasoline, and residual fuel oil. Unfinished oils from Russia are classified as Mazut-100 fuel oil, or M-100, which is consumed as a supplementary refinery input. Crude oil imports from Russia made up 29% of the combined petroleum imports by volume from the country in 2021. The third-largest share of imports from Russia by volume was motor gasoline, at 9%. The fourth-largest share was residual fuel oil, making up 4% in 2021.
The US has tried to limit Russia's oil revenue by implementing a $60-per-barrel cap on oil sold with Western shipping or insurance. However, Russia has found ways around this price cap, such as through its shadow fleet, which has made the implementation of the price cap challenging.
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Russia is the US's second-largest supplier of heating oil
Russia is one of many countries that supply oil and natural gas to the United States. In 2021, the US imported 40 million barrels a year of finished motor gasoline and 104 million barrels of fuel oil distillate. Russian gasoline made up about 5 million barrels in 2021, or about 13% of US imports, making it the third-largest contributor after Canada and the Netherlands.
Russia is the second-largest supplier of heating oil to the US. In 2021, the US imported 8.5 million barrels of heating oil from Russia, compared to 46 million barrels from Canada. The US also imported 6.5 million barrels from the Netherlands, 6.2 million barrels from Colombia, and 5.1 million barrels from Saudi Arabia, among others.
While Russia is a relatively small contributor to US crude oil imports, it is a larger supplier of unfinished oils and fuel oil, which US refineries use as a supplement to crude oil in the refining process. In 2021, unfinished oils made up more than half of US petroleum imports from Russia, while crude oil imports made up 29% of the total.
In March 2022, the US banned the import of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, a report from November 2023 revealed that fuel made in part from Russian crude was still ending up in the US. Between January and September 2023, the US imported 30 million barrels of fuel from refineries running on Russian oil, which was sold to companies including BP, Sunoco, and Shell.
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US has banned imports of Russian oil and gas
The US has banned imports of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal. This decision was made in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the intention of depriving President Putin of the economic resources required to continue the war.
Russia is one of many countries that supply oil and natural gas to the US, and in 2021, Russian gasoline made up about 13% of US imports, making it the third-largest contributor. However, in terms of crude oil, Russia accounted for only about 3% of US foreign imports, and about 1% of the overall US supply.
Despite the ban, a report by Global Witness revealed that fuel made in part from Russian crude oil is still ending up in American gas tanks. This is due to a loophole in the embargo, where Russian oil is first sold to countries outside the US and the EU, such as India, refined into gasoline, diesel, and other products, and then legally sold to American companies.
The US has taken steps to enforce its sanctions, including sanctioning shipping companies for transporting oil sold above the cap and sending notices to vessels suspected of violating sanctions. However, some argue that more needs to be done to truly get Russian fuel out of American gas tanks.
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Frequently asked questions
Russia is one of dozens of countries that supply oil and natural gas to the United States. In 2021, the US imported about 0.7% as much crude oil from Russia as it produced domestically. In 2021, Russian gasoline made up about 13% of US imports, making it the third largest contributor after Canada and the Netherlands.
US refineries use imported unfinished oils and fuel oil from Russia as a supplement to crude oil in the refining process.
More than half of the total petroleum imports from Russia in 2021 were unfinished oils, mainly Mazut-100 fuel oil or M-100. Crude oil imports made up 29% of the combined petroleum imports from Russia in 2021.
Yes, in 2022, the US banned the import of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and coal. However, a report in 2023 revealed that fuel made in part from Russian crude was still ending up in American gas tanks.
