01 Jun United States as a major petroleum exporter and importer
Total energy exports from the United States reached a record 31 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) in 2025, 2% more than the previous record set in 2024. U.S. energy imports were 21 quads, down 5% from 2024. Taken together, net trade—total imports less total exports—reached 11 quads of net exports in 2025, a record and 20% more net exports than the previous record set in 2024.
Petroleum accounts for most U.S. energy trade and is the largest source of both exports and imports. U.S. petroleum exports remained near records in 2025, with most exports going to other countries in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Energy companies in the United States trade with others across the world in a global market. In general, energy companies in the United States can:
- Sell products to U.S. customers
- Export products to customers in other countries
- Import products from other countries
- Store products for later
Petroleum companies in the United States can also import crude oil and petroleum products to be further processed and sold, either domestically or re-exported to other countries. Crude oil must be processed at refineries before it can be used as petroleum products, such as motor gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
Petroleum has been the largest source of U.S. energy exports since 1999 and accounted for 63% of total energy exports in 2025. U.S. petroleum exports grew substantially during the past decade in part because:
- The United States removed restrictions on crude oil exports in 2016.
- Domestic production and export infrastructure expanded.
- Global demand increased, including from Europe’s recent ban on seaborne crude oil imports from Russia in 2022 and petroleum products in 2023.
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