More countries imported US crude oil in 2016

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2017 - Following the removal of restrictions on U.S. crude oil exports in December 2015, the U.S. exported crude to 26 different countries in 2016, compared with 10 the previous year, data from EIA show.

In 2015, 92 percent of U.S. crude oil exports went to Canada, which was exempt from U.S. crude oil export restrictions. After the lifting of restrictions, Canada remained the top destination, but in 2016 received only 61 percent of U.S. crude exports.

Aside from Canada, European destinations such as the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom and France rank high on the list of U.S. crude oil export destinations.

The next largest regional destination is Asia, including China, Korea, Singapore and Japan.

In 2016, U.S. crude oil exports averaged 520,000 barrels per day (b/d), some 12 percent more than in 2015, totaling 55,000 b/d, despite a year-over-year decline in production, EIA notes.

#30