How much oil does the United States import (and why)? | American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
Source: https://www.afpm.org/newsroom/blog/how-much-oil-does-united-states-import-and-why
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:14
How much oil does the United States import (and why)? | American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
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Blog
How much oil does the United States import (and why)?
January 24, 2025
By:
AFPM Communications
About 60% of the crude oil that runs through U.S. refineries is extracted right here at home. However, our refineries run on many different types of crude oil, some of which we don’t produce here or can’t economically transport. In those cases, we use imports. Nearly 70% of our crude oil imports come from Canada (60%) and Mexico (7%). Using the right types of crude oil keeps our refineries efficient, keeps costs down and maintains energy security.
The amount of crude oil U.S. refineries process greatly exceeds U.S. crude oil production. The United States is producing a record amount of crude oil (~13.4 million barrels per day), while U.S. refineries need about 16.5 million barrels per day to maintain current production levels (roughly 90% utilization).
Many refineries need heavier crude oil to maximize flexibility of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel production. Today, most crude oil produced in the United States is light, including much of what’s produced in the Permian and Bakken. Light crudes are not good replacements for the heavy crude oil we get from Canada and Mexico.
Re-tooling refineries to process solely U.S. crude oil (light crude) would cost billions — a risky investment that would take decades to permit, construct and eventually pay off. We lack the infrastructure (like pipelines) needed to cost effectively supply U.S crude oil and refined products to every region. Even if the economics of re-tooling our facilities worked, it can take close to a decade to permit and build pipelines in the United States.
The ability to import AND export crude oil and refined products is good for consumers AND safeguards U.S. energy security.
Read more
.
Print as PDF:
Media Contact:
Ericka Perryman
media@afpm.org
202.457.0480
About AFPM:
The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) is the leading trade association representing the makers of the fuels that keep us moving, the petrochemicals that are the essential building blocks for modern life, and the midstream companies that get our feedstocks and products where they need to go. We make the products that make life better, safer and more sustainable — we make progress.
Topics
Crude
Author
AFPM Communications
AFPM Communications provides insights from inside AFPM.
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Skip to main content
Blog
How much oil does the United States import (and why)?
January 24, 2025
By:
AFPM Communications
About 60% of the crude oil that runs through U.S. refineries is extracted right here at home. However, our refineries run on many different types of crude oil, some of which we don’t produce here or can’t economically transport. In those cases, we use imports. Nearly 70% of our crude oil imports come from Canada (60%) and Mexico (7%). Using the right types of crude oil keeps our refineries efficient, keeps costs down and maintains energy security.
The amount of crude oil U.S. refineries process greatly exceeds U.S. crude oil production. The United States is producing a record amount of crude oil (~13.4 million barrels per day), while U.S. refineries need about 16.5 million barrels per day to maintain current production levels (roughly 90% utilization).
Many refineries need heavier crude oil to maximize flexibility of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel production. Today, most crude oil produced in the United States is light, including much of what’s produced in the Permian and Bakken. Light crudes are not good replacements for the heavy crude oil we get from Canada and Mexico.
Re-tooling refineries to process solely U.S. crude oil (light crude) would cost billions — a risky investment that would take decades to permit, construct and eventually pay off. We lack the infrastructure (like pipelines) needed to cost effectively supply U.S crude oil and refined products to every region. Even if the economics of re-tooling our facilities worked, it can take close to a decade to permit and build pipelines in the United States.
The ability to import AND export crude oil and refined products is good for consumers AND safeguards U.S. energy security.
Read more
.
Print as PDF:
Media Contact:
Ericka Perryman
media@afpm.org
202.457.0480
About AFPM:
The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) is the leading trade association representing the makers of the fuels that keep us moving, the petrochemicals that are the essential building blocks for modern life, and the midstream companies that get our feedstocks and products where they need to go. We make the products that make life better, safer and more sustainable — we make progress.
Topics
Crude
Author
AFPM Communications
AFPM Communications provides insights from inside AFPM.
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What is upstream?
Apr 10, 2025
Members of the upstream segment explore for and extract crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). Crude oil and NGLs are used as feedstocks to produce fuels and petrochemicals, and in some cases directly as sources of energy and natural gas is used as a source of energy.
Apr 10, 2025
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AFPM statement on latest tariff announcement
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President and CEO Chet Thompson issued the following statement in response to Wednesday’s tariff announcement from the Trump administration.
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Read More
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Mar 4, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President and CEO Chet Thompson issued the following statement on the tariffs being levied today on Canada and Mexico.
Mar 4, 2025
Read More
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