The United States is on the verge of becoming a net crude oil exporter for the first time since World War II, as exports surged to their highest level in seven months last week. Shipments reached 5.2 million barrels per day, driven by strong demand from Asian and European buyers scrambling to replace supplies lost from the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
According to U.S. government data, net crude imports—calculated as the difference between imports and exports—narrowed to just 66,000 barrels per day last week, the lowest on record since weekly data collection began in 2001. The disruption to Middle East oil flows, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, has caused the largest-ever shock to global energy markets. Iranian threats to shipping have halted around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies, prompting refiners in Europe and Asia to turn to the United States, the world’s largest oil producer, for alternative sources.
Analysts and traders warn that U.S. export capacity is approaching its limits. Pipeline capacity and vessel availability restrict exports to a maximum of about 6 million barrels per day. Last week, nearly half of U.S. crude exports, or about 2.4 million barrels per day, were shipped to Europe, with roughly 1.49 million barrels per day heading to Asia—an increase from 30% a year ago. Key buyers included the Netherlands, Japan, France, Germany, and South Korea. In a notable development, a vessel carrying 500,000 barrels of U.S. crude was reported en route to Turkey, marking the first such export to the country in at least a year.
Meanwhile, U.S. crude imports fell by more than 1 million barrels per day to 5.3 million barrels per day last week. The country continues to import heavier, sour crude grades that its refineries are designed to process, despite producing large volumes of lighter, sweet crude.
The supply disruption has widened the price gap between Brent crude and U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures to as much as $20.69 per barrel last month, making U.S. crude more attractive to overseas buyers while dampening domestic import demand. Physical crude prices for immediate delivery to Europe and Africa have also hit record highs.
With exports likely to remain near 5.2 million barrels per day in April, the United States is rapidly approaching a historic milestone in its energy trade balance, underscoring the global impact of the Iran conflict and the shifting dynamics of international oil markets.
