American oil imports by country Q1/2026: Top US oil sources

Key takeaways about American oil imports by country

• Bahamas leads American oil imports by country at US$31.98 billion (22.78% share) in Q1 2026 through offshore storage and transshipment hubs, followed by the top US crude oil import partners: US FTZ re-entries (15.44%), Mexico (10.78%), Canada (6.00%), and Saudi Arabia (5.65%) per TradeInt's verified Bill of Lading database.
• Crude oil (HS 270900) dominates the oil imports to the US by country mix at US$81.27 billion (57.90%) in Q1 2026, followed by light refined oils (HS 271012) at US$50.34 billion (35.86%) and diesel/heavy fuel oil (HS 271019) at US$6.17 billion (4.40%).
• Saudi Refining INC is the largest US oil buyer at US$12.63 billion (43.47% of HS 2709 inflows), followed by PBF Holding (19.35%) and Valero Marketing (6.34%), while US crude oil production is forecast at 13.5 million b/d in 2026 (essentially flat per EIA STEO) before declining 2% to 13.3 million b/d in 2027.

American oil imports by country: Where does the US get most of its oil?

US mainly imports oil from Bahamas, valued at US$31.98 billion (22.78% share), the United States transshipment and FTZ re-entries at US$21.67 billion (15.44%), and Mexico at US$15.13 billion (10.78%) in Q1 2026, from TradeInt's official US Import Data and Bill of Lading Database under HS 2709 (crude oil) and HS 2710 (refined petroleum). The Bahamas leads because of its role as an offshore storage and transshipment hub for crude oil flowing into US Gulf Coast refineries.

Top 5 American oil imports by country in Q1 2026:

1. Bahamas - US$31.98 billion (22.78%): Acts as a vital offshore storage and transshipment hub for regional crude oil.
2. Mexico - US$15.13 billion (10.78%): Provides key heavy crude supplies crucial for complex Gulf Coast refinery configurations.
3. Canada - US$8.42 billion (6.00%): Delivers massive, reliable pipeline-based crude oil volume, ensuring North American energy security.
4. Saudi Arabia - US$7.93 billion (5.65%): Supplies consistent volume stabilizing strategic reserves and baseline domestic refining capabilities.
5. Panama - US$5.4 billion (3.82%): Serves as a pivotal maritime transit route and regional fuel logistics hub.

Top 1: Bahamas at US$31.98 billion

Light refined oils and gasoline components dominate Bahamas-origin flows at US$27.36 billion (HS 271012, 85.55%), with transshipped crude oil (HS 270900) following at US$4.61 billion (14.41%) and diesel/fuel oil (HS 271019) at US$12.47 million, according to TradeInt's latest trade records. The HS mix reflects the Bahamas' role as an offshore transshipment hub rather than a producer.

Top US oil imports from the Bahamas (Q1 2026):

1. HS 271012 - Light refined oils/gasoline: US$27.36 billion (85.55%): Supplies critical refined gasoline components from regional offshore storage to eastern US markets.
2. HS 270900 - Crude oil: US$4.61 billion (14.41%): Re-routes transshipped international crude oil to bolster US Gulf Coast refinery stocks.
3. HS 271019 - Diesel/fuel oil: US$12.47 million (0.04%): Provides minor supplementary diesel and fuel oil volumes for maritime and regional transport.
4. HS 271099 - Residual oil: Accounts for negligible residual oil trade to meet specific regional industrial processing needs.

The Bahamas' position at #1 reflects a distinctive feature of oil imports to the US by country statistics: a significant share of inbound oil flows through offshore storage and blending facilities like the Buckeye Bahamas Hub at Freeport before reaching US ports.

These facilities receive crude oil cargoes from producers worldwide, blend or temporarily store them, then re-ship into eastern US refining centres to optimise tanker logistics, refining slate requirements, and inventory timing.

Worth noting about Bahamas-origin US oil flows:

• Refined product concentration: HS 271012 light refined oils dominate Bahamas flows at 85.55%, indicating that most of the value is gasoline-grade refined product (not crude), reflecting downstream blending operations at offshore storage.
• Transshipment economics: Bahamas storage hubs allow Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) to discharge cargoes that are then redistributed in smaller parcels to multiple US ports, reducing per-barrel logistics costs for refiners.
• Origin opacity: Because Bahamas-origin flows aggregate cargoes from multiple producers, the underlying oil supply can include barrels from West Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the North Sea, depending on shipping economics that quarter.

Top 2: Mexico at US$15.13 billion

Heavy crude oil dominates Mexico's exports to the US at US$1.55 billion (HS 270900, 64.52%), followed by diesel and heavy fuel oil (HS 271019) at US$849.43 million (35.41%) and light refined petroleum (HS 271012) at US$1.65 million, captured by TradeInt's Q1 2026 customs records under the HS 2709/2710 codes.

Top US oil imports from Mexico (Q1 2026):

1. HS 270900 - Crude oil (heavy): US$1.55 billion (64.52%): Provides essential heavy crude oil varieties optimized for complex US Gulf Coast refineries.
2. HS 271019 - Diesel and heavy fuel oil: US$849.43 million (35.41%): Satisfies critical industrial demands for imported diesel and heavy fuel oil product varieties.
3. HS 271012 - Light refined petroleum: US$1.65 million (0.07%): Integrates specialised light refined petroleum products into regional border-state fuel networks.
4. HS 271099 - Specialty lubricants: US$23 (0.00%): Fulfills niche cross-border industrial requirements for specialized lubricants and waste oil processing.

Mexico anchors US crude oil imports by country in the heavy-grade category, an important slice of the broader US petroleum imports by country picture. Reporting from the American Petroleum Institute (API) confirms the US primarily imports heavy crude oils because domestic shale production is light and sweet, while US Gulf Coast refineries (centred in Texas and Louisiana) are configured for heavy and medium grades.

Mexican Maya and Olmeca crude grades match Gulf Coast refinery configurations exceptionally well, making Mexico a structural heavy-crude supplier to refiners like Valero, ExxonMobil Baytown, and Citgo.

Here are some trade highlights shaping US-Mexico oil flows:

• Heavy crude specialisation: Mexico's HS 270900 crude oil flows are heavily weighted toward Maya and Olmeca grades that match the API gravity and sulphur profile US Gulf refiners require.
• Diesel and heavy fuel oil flows: HS 271019 at US$849.43 million reflects substantial cross-border diesel and heavy fuel oil trade, supporting US industrial energy consumption and Mexico's refined product surplus management.
• Pipeline plus marine logistics: Mexican crude oil enters the US primarily via marine tanker into Gulf Coast ports (Corpus Christi, Houston, New Orleans), complementing the pipeline-delivered Canadian flows further north.

Top 3: Canada at US$8.42 billion

From TradeInt's verified US import data insights, pipeline-delivered heavy crude leads Canada's oil exports to the US at US$4.74 billion (HS 270900, 56.29%), with refined motor gasoline (HS 271012) at US$1.84 billion and industrial diesel/heating oil (HS 271019) at US$788.61 million following next.

Top HS codes for US oil imports from Canada (Q1 2026):

1. HS 270900 - Pipeline-delivered heavy crude: US$4.74 billion (56.29%): Secures reliable, pipeline-delivered heavy crude volume, ensuring foundational North American energy stability.
2. HS 271012 - Refined motor gasoline: US$1.84 billion (21.87%): Supplements northern US retail markets with stable, direct imports of refined motor gasoline.
3. HS 271019 - Industrial diesel/heating oil: US$788.61 million (9.37%): Supplies key industrial diesel and heating oil inputs to support northern border states.

Canada is the largest single foreign-origin crude oil supplier to the US by volume and one of the most stable US crude oil import partners, with most flows moving via the Enbridge Mainline, TC Energy Keystone, and Trans Mountain pipeline systems into the US Midwest and Gulf Coast.

Western Canadian Select (WCS) heavy crude from Alberta's oil sands matches US Gulf Coast refining configurations and trades at a structural discount to West Texas Intermediate (WTI), giving Canadian crude favourable economics for US refiners.

Highlights of the US-Canada oil trade:

• Pipeline integration: Pipeline delivery from Alberta avoids marine tanker logistics, providing the most cost-efficient crude oil supply lane in North America, with daily volumes measured in millions of barrels per EIA data.
• Refined gasoline cross-border trade: Canadian refineries in Ontario and Quebec supply HS 271012 refined gasoline to US northern border states (New York, Vermont, Maine, Michigan), with US$1.84 billion in Q1 2026 trade.
• Industrial fuel oil: HS 271019 flows of US$788.61 million represent diesel and heating oil supplies, particularly important to US northern states during winter peak demand months.

Top 4: Saudi Arabia at US$7.93 billion

Medium-to-heavy crude oil anchors Saudi Arabia's US exports at US$6.62 billion (HS 270900, 83.46%), with light refined products (HS 271012) following at US$1.31 billion (16.54%), data supplied by TradeInt.

Top US oil imports from Saudi Arabia (Q1 2026):

1. HS 270900 - Medium-to-heavy crude oil: US$6.62 billion (83.46%): Anchors supply of baseline medium-to-heavy crude oil for continuous Gulf Coast refinery processing.
2. HS 271012 - Light refined products: US$1.31 billion (16.54%): Provides high-value light refined products to strategically balance regional consumer fuel shortfalls.

Saudi Refining's 43.47% share reflects Aramco's vertical integration into US refining through Motiva Enterprises, where Saudi crude flows directly into the company's US refining slate.

PBF Holding and Valero are major US independent refiners with multi-region operations, while ExxonMobil and Valero's Mexico subsidiaries reflect substantial cross-border petroleum trade integrating US and Mexican supply chains.

Things to note about US oil buyer concentration:

• Aramco-Motiva pipeline: Saudi Refining's dominant share reflects ownership integration with Motiva Port Arthur (the largest US refinery), where Saudi crude flows are essentially captive to refining configuration requirements.
• Independent refiner exposure: PBF and Valero collectively account for 25.69% of US crude oil imports tracked, exposing both companies to crude-grade pricing differentials between WTI, Brent, and heavy Maya/WCS benchmarks.
• Cross-border ExxonMobil and Valero: Mexican subsidiary positions reflect substantial cross-border refined product trade and crude exchange flows between the US and Mexican petroleum networks.

Top 5: Panama at US$5.36 billion

Crude oil transshipment dominates Panama's US oil exports at US$5.36 billion, with minor refined light oil (HS 271012) at US$1.10 million and diesel/heavy oil (HS 271019) at US$171k, making up the rest, shown by TradeInt's Q1 2026 US oil import trade records.

Top US oil imports from Panama (Q1 2026):

1. HS 270900 - Crude oil: US$5.35 billion (99.97%): Vital transshipment route supplying crude oil to balance domestic US refinery feedstocks.
2. HS 271012 - Minor refined light oil: US$1.10 million (0.02%): Minor refined light oil imports serving local maritime transit or niche coastal markets.
3. HS 271019 - Diesel/heavy oil: US$171,374 (0.01%): Negligible heavy oil volumes providing localized maritime bunkering or product balancing needs.

Panama ranks #5 because of its location at the Panama Canal, one of the world's busiest oil shipping routes, rather than any domestic oil production. The country acts as a transit point where foreign crude oil briefly passes through before reaching US refineries.

Large tankers arriving from Latin America, the Middle East, or West Africa typically stop at Panama's Atlantic terminal (Bahía Las Minas) or Pacific terminal (Charco Azul). The oil is then transferred to smaller vessels or moved across the country via the Trans-Panama Pipeline before continuing to US Gulf Coast or West Coast refineries.

Who are the largest buyers of US oil?

Among 500+ million verified buyers/suppliers on TradeInt, the largest buyers of US oil under HS 2709 crude flows in Q1 2026 are SAUDI REFINING INC SRI at US$12.63 billion (43.47% share), PBF HOLDING COMPANY LLC at US$5.62 billion (19.35%), and VALERO MARKETING AMP SUPPLY at US$1.84 billion (6.34%). The top 5 control 74.24% of US crude oil import flows tracked, dominated by Aramco's US refining subsidiary and major independent refiners.

Top 5 largest US oil importers (HS 2709, Q1 2026):

1. SAUDI REFINING INC SRI - US$12.63 billion (43.47%): Aramco subsidiary managing crude oil supply and refining logistics for US markets, anchoring Motiva Enterprises operations.
2. PBF HOLDING COMPANY LLC - US$5.62 billion (19.35%): Major independent petroleum refiner supplying transportation fuels across North America, operating refineries in Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio, and California.
3. VALERO MARKETING AMP SUPPLY - US$1.84 billion (6.34%): Markets and distributes transportation fuels and petrochemical products globally, integrated with the Valero refinery network.
4. EXXONMOBIL MEXICO SA DE CV - US$820.28 million (2.82%): Markets and distributes transportation fuels and petrochemical products, supporting ExxonMobil cross-border petroleum flows.
5. VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO SA DE CV - US$655.92 million (2.26%): Facilitates refined petroleum product trade and cross-border logistics with Mexico, complementing Valero's Texas refinery operations.

What type of oil does the USA import?

The US petroleum imports by country mix is dominated by crude oil (HS 270900) at US$81.27 billion (57.90% of inbound oil value), followed by light refined oils and gasoline (HS 271012) at US$50.34 billion (35.86%) and diesel/heavy fuel oil (HS 271019) at US$6.17 billion (4.40%) in Q1 2026, using TradeInt's HS code data search capability.

Top 5 oil product categories imported to the USA in Q1 2026:

• HS 270900 - Crude oil: US$81.27 billion (57.90%, 3,303 shipments): Essential raw material feeding domestic refineries to produce gasoline and industrial petrochemicals.
• HS 271012 - Light refined oils/gasoline: US$50.34 billion (35.86%, 1,490 shipments): Directly secures domestic transportation fuel supplies and stabilizes consumer retail gasoline pricing.
• HS 271019 - Diesel and heavy fuel oil: US$6.17 billion (4.40%, 438 shipments): Critical for commercial transport, industrial heating, and manufacturing sector energy needs.
• HS 271020 - Biofuel-blend mixtures: US$1.55 million: Supports renewable energy integration and satisfies low-carbon fuel regulatory standards.

Conclusion

From TradeInt's insights of American oil imports by country, Mexico, Canada, and Saudi Arabia anchor heavy crude flows that complement US domestic shale (which is light and sweet).

Saudi Refining's 43.47% share of HS 2709 imports reflects Aramco's vertical integration into US refining. And US oil production at 13.5 million b/d in 2026 confirms the country remains the world's largest producer while still relying on imports for refinery configuration matching.

Learn more about how to leverage import-export trade intelligence from TradeInt data availability to empower your business's international trade strategy.

Frequently asked questions

What country does the US import most oil from?

The US imports most oil from the Bahamas at US$31.98 billion (22.78% share) in Q1 2026, followed by US Foreign Trade Zone re-entries at US$21.67 billion (15.44%) and Mexico at US$15.13 billion (10.78%), as indicated from TradeInt's Bill of Lading database.

Where does the US import oil from in 2025?

The US imports oil primarily from Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and through Bahamas transshipment hubs in 2025. From TradeInt's trade records, the top 10 origin countries (including Bahamas, Mexico, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Panama, Ecuador, Brazil, Egypt, and Nigeria) supplied roughly 76.84% of the US oil import value, anchored by heavy crude (HS 270900) and refined gasoline (HS 271012).

What percentage of US oil is imported by other countries?

Approximately 60-65% of US petroleum demand is met by domestic crude production, while the remainder is supplemented by imports, particularly heavy crude grades from Mexico, Canada, and the Middle East. Per TradeInt's Q1 2026 data, crude oil (HS 270900) represents 57.90% of inbound oil value at US$81.27 billion, with light refined oils (HS 271012) at 35.86% and diesel/fuel oil (HS 271019) at 4.40% completing the visible mix.

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