Rajan Wilcox
The United States has historically been a net importer of petroleum, with sources varying from year to year. In 2023, the US imported about 8.5 million barrels per day of petroleum from 86 countries, with Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Brazil being the top five source countries. Crude oil accounted for about 76% of these imports, with the remaining 24% consisting of crude oil products such as hydrocarbon gas liquids, liquefied petroleum gases, fuel ethanol, biofuels, and kerosene. The US became a net exporter of petroleum for the first time in 2020, and this trend has largely continued, with net exports of about 1.19 million barrels per day in 2022.
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What You'll Learn
The US has been a net exporter of oil and petroleum since 2021
The US has been a net exporter of oil and petroleum since late August 2021, ending a long period of being a net importer. In 2023, the US exported about 10.15 million barrels per day (b/d) of petroleum to 173 countries and three US territories, while importing about 8.5 million b/d, resulting in a net export of 1.64 million b/d. Crude oil exports accounted for 40% of total US gross petroleum exports, while crude oil imports made up 76% of US total gross petroleum imports.
The US has seen a significant increase in domestic oil production since 2010, which has impacted its import and export situation. From 2005 to 2015, US reliance on petroleum imports fell from 60% to 25% of total consumption, while exports increased by over 300%. Since 2015, imports have remained steady at around 10 million barrels per day, but exports have continued to increase. This trend is projected to continue, with US import reliance for oil expected to keep falling over the coming decade.
The US became a net exporter of petroleum in 2020 for the first time since at least 1949. In 2022, total petroleum exports were about 9.52 million b/d, while imports were about 8.33 million b/d, making the US an annual net exporter for the third consecutive year. The US remained a net importer of crude oil in 2022, importing about 6.28 million b/d while exporting about 3.58 million b/d.
The US has been the largest producer of crude oil in the world since 2018. Crude oil accounted for the largest share of US total energy imports in 2023, at nearly 66%, and for about 29% of total energy exports. Some imported crude oil is refined into petroleum products for export. Petroleum imports from Canada have increased significantly since the 1990s, and Canada is now the largest single source of US total petroleum and crude oil imports. In 2022, Canada was the source of 52% of US gross total petroleum imports and 60% of gross crude oil imports.
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Crude oil imports from Canada and Mexico
In 2023, the United States was a net exporter of petroleum and petroleum products, with exports totaling about 10.15 million barrels per day (b/d) and imports of about 8.5 million b/d, resulting in a 1.6 million b/d surplus. Crude oil accounted for 76% of these imports, or about 6.48 million b/d.
Canada and Mexico are two of the top five source countries for US petroleum imports. In 2025, US oil refiners were reported to be heavily reliant on crude oil imports from these two countries due to their facilities being configured to run heavier grades of crude oil. Refineries in the US Midwest process about 70% of the 4 million barrels per day of crude imported from Canada.
The US has been a net exporter of oil and petroleum products since late August 2021. However, prior to October 2019, the US consistently imported more petroleum and crude oil than it exported. The recent increase in domestic oil production, especially since 2010, has significantly impacted US petroleum imports and exports. From 2005 to 2015, the United States' reliance on petroleum imports fell from 60% to 25% of total consumption, while exports increased by over 300%. Since 2015, imports have remained fairly steady at approximately 10 million barrels per day.
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OPEC nations were the source of 70% of US petroleum imports in 1977
The United States has historically been a net importer of petroleum, with imports peaking at 60% of the country's total consumption in 2005. However, in recent years, the US has become less reliant on petroleum imports and has even become a net exporter of petroleum at times. In 2017, imports provided 19% of the country's demand for petroleum, and in 2023, the US imported about 8.5 million barrels per day of petroleum from 86 countries.
Despite this recent trend, the US was heavily reliant on imported oil and petroleum products in the 1970s, particularly from members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This reliance on OPEC nations as a source of petroleum imports was most pronounced in 1977, when OPEC nations accounted for 70% of US total petroleum imports and 85% of US crude oil imports. The increase in OPEC imports during this time was likely due to the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, during which Arab members of OPEC imposed an embargo against the United States, banning petroleum exports and introducing cuts in oil production. This embargo contributed to a sharp increase in oil prices and created economic strain in the United States.
Since 1977, the percentage of US total petroleum and crude oil imports from OPEC countries has generally declined. In 2022, OPEC and Persian Gulf countries were the source of about 12% of US total petroleum imports and US crude oil imports. Saudi Arabia, the largest OPEC petroleum exporter to the United States, was the source of 7% of US total petroleum imports and crude oil imports in 2022.
The recent increase in US domestic oil production, particularly since 2010, has contributed to the decline in reliance on OPEC imports. Additionally, the US has begun exporting a significant quantity of crude oil due to high domestic oil production. As a result, the US became a net exporter of petroleum in 2020 for the first time since at least 1949 and has maintained this status in subsequent years.
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US refineries need 16.5 million barrels of oil per day
The US has been a net exporter of oil and petroleum products since late August 2021. In 2023, the US exported about 10.15 million barrels per day (b/d) of petroleum to 173 countries and three US territories. The country imported about 8.5 million b/d of petroleum from 86 countries in the same year, resulting in a net export of 1.64 million b/d. Crude oil exports of about 4.06 million b/d accounted for 40% of total US gross petroleum exports.
However, US refineries need about 16.5 million barrels per day to maintain current production levels (roughly 90% utilization). The amount of crude oil US refineries process far exceeds US crude oil production. The US is producing a record amount of crude oil, approximately 13.4 million barrels per day. Many refineries need heavier crude oil to maximize the flexibility of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel production. Most crude oil produced in the US is light, and light crudes are not good replacements for the heavy crude oil imported from Canada and Mexico.
Re-tooling refineries to process only US crude oil (light crude) would be costly and time-consuming. The US lacks the infrastructure (such as pipelines) needed to supply US crude oil and refined products cost-effectively to every region. The recent increase in domestic oil production, especially since 2010, has significantly impacted US petroleum imports and exports. From 2005 to 2015, the United States' reliance on petroleum imports fell from 60% to 25% of total consumption, while exports increased by over 300%.
The US has lost refining capacity since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), US refiners had 19 million barrels per day (bpd) of operable refining capacity at the pandemic's beginning. By December 2021, that number had fallen to 17.9 million bpd, a loss of 1.1 million bpd in less than two years. Refinery closures were mainly due to demand loss during the pandemic. Additionally, some refineries, particularly on the East Coast, were at a competitive disadvantage as they lacked access to cheaper oil from the US shale boom and had to procure crude oil on the international market.
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US petroleum imports peaked in 2005
Following the oil crises, a recession occurred, leading to a drop in oil demand and a decrease in crude oil imports. However, US crude imports increased again until the third oil crisis in 2005. Despite the shale oil boom that began in 2011, the US still imports a significant amount of crude oil from the Persian Gulf and OPEC countries. The US has made efforts to reduce its reliance on petroleum imports, with domestic oil production increasing significantly since 2010. As a result, from 2005 to 2015, the US's dependence on petroleum imports decreased from 60% to 25% of total consumption, while exports increased by over 300%.
The US has been a net exporter of oil and petroleum products since late August 2021. In 2023, the US exported about 10.15 million barrels per day of petroleum to 173 countries and three US territories, while importing about 8.5 million barrels per day. Crude oil accounted for about 76% of US total gross petroleum imports and 40% of total US gross petroleum exports. The top source countries for US petroleum imports in 2023 were Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Brazil.
While the US has made strides in reducing its dependence on petroleum imports, it is still heavily reliant on oil as a transportation fuel, and its infrastructure is vulnerable to attacks and supply disruptions. The country also faces challenges in reducing its oil imports due to the high cost of railroading unconventional crude oil and the funding of terrorism by oil-revenue transfers. As of 2022, the US imported nearly two-thirds of the oil it used.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2023, the US imported about 8.5 million barrels of petroleum per day from 86 countries. Crude oil accounted for about 76% of these imports.
In 2017, imports provided 19% of the country's demand for petroleum. From 2005 to 2015, the US reliance on petroleum imports fell from 60% to 25% of total consumption.
The top five source countries of US gross petroleum imports in 2023 were Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Brazil.
The US imports crude oil and refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, hydrocarbon gas liquids, liquefied petroleum gases, fuel ethanol, biofuels, and kerosene.
US refineries run on many types of crude oil, some of which are not produced domestically or are too costly to transport.
