The salient facts about US energy are (1) the growth of shale oil and gas, and (2) the dominant position of inter-North American trade, meaning that the US imports less end less energy from politically volatile nations outside the continent.



Net imports of petroleum averaged 4.9 MMb/d, the equivalent of 25% of total U.S. petroleum consumption in 2016, up slightly from 24% in 2015, which was the lowest level since 1970.



The United States is currently an exporter of petroleum products and coal, but an importer of natural gas and crude oil. When the energy content of these fuels is combined, the United States in 2014 imported 23.3 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) of energy and exported 12.2 quadrillion Btu. Projections in EIA's recently released AEO2015 show that, on an energy content basis, U.S. energy imports and exports could come into balance in coming years.



The timing of the projected end to U.S. net energy imports depends on assumptions about oil prices, energy resources, and economic growth. In the AEO2015 Reference case, imports and exports are balanced starting in 2028.



In most of these cases, natural gas is the dominant U.S. energy export, while crude oil and liquid fuels continue to be imported. In all cases, the United States transitions from a net importer of natural gas to a net exporter in 2017. These natural gas exports are mostly sent by pipeline to Mexico or in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to other countries.



Projections in EIA's Annual Energy Outlook (2015) (AEO2015), released April 14, show the potential to eliminate net U.S. energy imports sometime between 2020 and 2030. This reflects changes in both supply and demand, as continued growth in oil and natural gas production and the use of renewables combine with demand-side efficiencies to moderate demand growth. The United States has been a net importer of energy since the 1950s.



The five largest sources of U.S. petroleum imports by share of total imports in 2016



Canada—38%

Saudi Arabia—11%

Venezuela—8%

Mexico—7%

Colombia—5%



The United States is a net exporter of petroleum products, and it also exports some crude oil



Because the United States imports petroleum, it may seem surprising that it also exports petroleum. In 2016, total U.S. petroleum exports averaged about 5.2 MMb/d, which made the United States a net exporter (exports minus imports) of petroleum. The total U.S. petroleum exports includes about 0.5 MMb/d of crude oil, 52% of which went to Canada.



Most U.S. petroleum exports are petroleum liquids and refined products. Because of logistical, regulatory, and quality considerations, exporting some petroleum products is the most economical way to meet the market's needs. For example, refiners in the U.S. Gulf Coast region frequently find that it makes economic sense to export some of their gasoline to Mexico rather than shipping it to the East Coast of the United States, because lower cost gasoline imports are available to the East Coast from Europe.



The five largest destinations of U.S. petroleum exports of 5.2 MMb/d by share of total exports in 2016



Mexico—17%

Canada—17%

Netherlands—6%

Brazil—5%

Japan—4%