Crude oil import by country: How much oil do they import in 2026?

Crude oil import data: What crude oil trade trends are worth noticing in 2026?

• The United States is the world's largest crude oil importer in H1 2026, at US$147.57 billion under HS 270900, a 77.18% share of TradeInt's tracked import table and more than 9 times the value of second-place India. This article's insights are mainly sourced and analysed from import-export trade data record access provided by TradeInt.
• Origin mixes diverge sharply across the top three buyers: Mexico anchors the US at 16.17% share through PMI Trading, Iraq leads India at 19.89% through SOMO, and Nigeria fronts Indonesia at 24.68% through Chevron Nigeria - three distinct regional dependencies inside one HS code.
• The IEA cut global 2026 supply to 102 million barrels per day, with 8.3 mb/d of Gulf output still shut in through July and world oil demand now forecast to decline by 1.6 mb/d.

Which countries import the most crude oil in 2026?

Based on TradeInt's global crude oil import data under HS 270900 in H1 2026, the United States leads the world at US$147.57 billion, drawing seaborne cargoes into PBF Holding's Gulf Coast refining slate, followed by India at US$16.14 billion (Reliance Industries refinery-scale purchases).

Indonesia sits third at US$5.90 billion through Pertamina Patra Niaga's state fuel network, ahead of Vietnam at US$4.56 billion (Nghi Son Refinery joint-venture feedstock) and Pakistan at US$3.28 billion (Pak Arab Refinery for the Karachi hub).

Top 5 crude oil importing countries in H1 2026:

1. United States - US$147.57 billion: the largest crude oil importing country in the world by value, with Gulf Coast refiners led by PBF HOLDING COMPANY LLC.
2. India - US$16.14 billion: the second-largest crude oil importing country, anchored by refinery-scale purchases through RELIANCE INDUSTRIES LIMITED.
3. Indonesia - US$5.90 billion: the leading crude oil importing country in Southeast Asia, handled through PT PERTAMINA PATRA NIAGA for the state fuel network.
4. Vietnam - US$4.56 billion: driven by CÔNG TY TNHH LỌC HÓA DẦU NGHI SƠN, the Nghi Son Refinery joint venture in Thanh Hoa.
5. Pakistan - US$3.28 billion: consolidated through PAK ARAB REFINERY LIMITED for the Karachi refining hub.

Top 1: United States

Based on TradeInt's US crude oil import records for HS 270900 in H1 2026, Mexico leads US crude oil imports at US$19.20 billion (16.17%), routing heavy grades through PMI Trading into Gulf Coast refineries, followed by Canada at US$16.77 billion (Cenovus Energy oil sands crude for the Midwest).

Saudi Arabia holds third at US$14.94 billion as Aramco Trading's Fujairah hub sustains the Middle East position, ahead of the Bahamas at US$10.89 billion (PBF Holding offshore storage and transshipment) and Venezuela at US$9.60 billion (PDVSA state-supplied heavy-grade cargoes).

Which countries does the US import crude oil from in H1 2026?

1. Mexico - US$19.20 billion (16.17%): heavy grades routed through PMI TRAD DESIGN ACT CO, Pemex's international trading arm.
2. Canada - US$16.77 billion (14.13%): oil-sands crude handled through CENOVUS ENERGY INC for Midwest refineries.
3. Saudi Arabia - US$14.94 billion (12.58%): cargoes routed through ARAMCO TRAD FUJAIRAH FZE AFT via the Fujairah hub.
4. Bahamas - US$10.89 billion (9.17%): offshore storage and transshipment volumes handled through PBF HOLDING COMPANY LLC.
5. Venezuela - US$9.60 billion (8.09%): state-supplied cargoes handled through PDVSA PETROLEO SA.

The United States is still a net crude oil importer even after becoming an annual net petroleum exporter in 2020. According to the EIA, the US imported 6.28 million b/d of crude while exporting 3.58 million b/d in 2022, because Gulf Coast refineries are configured for heavier grades that domestic shale cannot fully replace.

Canadian crude reaches US refiners almost entirely through cross-border pipelines rather than seaborne Bill of Lading routes, so TradeInt's HS 270900 records skew toward Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Latin American cargoes that clear US customs as maritime shipments. That framing helps read Mexico's top position on the US crude table alongside the wider EIA picture, where Canada supplied 60% of US gross crude oil imports historically.

Highlights of US crude oil imports in 2026:

• Refinery configuration keeps heavier grades on the shopping list: US Gulf Coast refiners rely on heavier crudes from Mexico, Canada, and Venezuela to match their processing setup, which is why lighter domestic shale barrels do not replace all imports.
• Bahamas and Venezuela act as swing sources: Combined Bahamian and Venezuelan cargoes reached US$20.49 billion in H1 2026, filling gaps left when Middle Eastern grades tighten.
• Aramco maintained a strategic position via Fujairah: Aramco Trading routed US$14.94 billion of Saudi crude into the US import table in H1 2026, preserving the Middle East role in the sourcing mix.

Top 2: India

Iraq leads India's crude oil imports at US$3.21 billion (19.89%) through SOMO-routed heavy grades, followed by Russia at US$2.89 billion (discounted Urals-grade cargoes via Sundarah Integrated FZ LLC), from TradeInt's India crude oil import records for HS 270900 in H1 2026.

Saudi Arabia sits third at US$2.59 billion under Aramco long-term contracts, ahead of UAE at US$1.78 billion (ADNOC coastal-refinery supply) and New Zealand at US$1.12 billion (trader-routed cargoes handled through Reliance International).

Top 5 origins of India crude oil imports in H1 2026:

1. Iraq - US$3.21 billion (19.89%): heavy grades routed through SOMO, India's largest single-origin crude supplier.
2. Russia - US$2.89 billion (17.92%): discounted Urals-grade cargoes handled through SUNDARAH INTEGRATED FZ LLC.
3. Saudi Arabia - US$2.59 billion (16.03%): long-term contracted supply handled through SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY.
4. UAE - US$1.78 billion (11.00%): ADNOC-supplied cargoes routed to Indian coastal refineries.
5. New Zealand - US$1.12 billion (6.95%): trader-routed cargoes handled through RELIANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED.

From ThePrint, India's crude import bill jumped 56.5% year-on-year to US$63.4 billion in April-July 2026 even as import volumes stayed nearly unchanged at 81.9 million tonnes, on PPAC data. That means pricing did the entire lifting on the bill.

Meanwhile, the Indian crude basket averaged US$114.48 per barrel in April 2026 at the peak of the West Asia conflict, easing to US$106.23 in May before recovering to US$88.94 per barrel as of 18 August 2026 as renewed US-Iran tensions pushed Brent back above US$90/bbl.

Because India's domestic crude oil production fell to 9.1 million tonnes in April-July 2026 from 9.7 million tonnes a year earlier, a larger share of demand had to be met through imports at higher unit costs.

Observations on India's crude oil import market in 2026:

• Middle East supply anchors the buyer: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE together reached US$7.58 billion of India's H1 2026 crude oil imports on TradeInt, showing how much of the origin mix still runs through the Gulf despite discounted Russian barrels.
• India imports around 85% of its crude requirement: PPAC data show sourcing spread across roughly 40 countries, leaving the economy exposed to further Brent-driven cost shocks and rupee pressure.
• Higher prices lift downstream costs: Umud Shokri, an energy expert at George Mason University, warned that Brent above US$90 per barrel first raises the oil import bill and dollar demand from refiners, then feeds costs into airlines, road transport, logistics, and petrochemicals.

Top 3: Indonesia

In H1 2026, Nigeria leads Indonesia's crude oil imports at US$1.46 billion (24.68%) with light sweet grades routed through Chevron Nigeria, followed by Angola at US$856.21 million (Esso Exploration Block 15 cargoes), powered by TradeInt data. Switzerland ranks third at US$796.17 million as TotalEnergies Trading channels multi-origin barrels to Pertamina, ahead of Gabon at US$320.95 million (BW Energy offshore lifts) and Australia at US$320.04 million (Chevron Australia regional supply).

Top 5 Indonesian crude oil suppliers in H1 2026:

1. Nigeria - US$1.46 billion (24.68%): light sweet grades handled through CHEVRON NIGERIA LTD, Indonesia's largest single-origin supplier.
2. Angola - US$856.21 million (14.51%): Block 15 cargoes handled through ESSO EXPLORATION ANGOLA BLOCK 15 LTD.
3. Switzerland - US$796.17 million (13.49%): trader-routed cargoes handled through TOTSA TOTALENERGIES TRADING S A.
4. Gabon - US$320.95 million (5.44%): offshore-lifted cargoes handled through BW ENERGY GABON SA.
5. Australia - US$320.04 million (5.42%): regional supply handled through CHEVRON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.

Indonesia's crude imports lean on African origins because domestic production keeps missing state-budget targets. According to Antara News, Indonesia's average crude oil production stood at 578,156 barrels per day through 31 July 2026, roughly 5% below the 610,000 bpd 2026 state budget target, on Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources data.

Because the Rokan Block in Riau Province suffered a gas pipeline leak affecting TGI infrastructure and the Cepu Block in Central and East Java entered natural production decline, the Ministry signalled that a larger share of refinery demand has to be met through imports through H2 2026.

Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed the government is preparing a long-term contract for Russian crude imports to bolster energy security, a shift expected to reshape the origin ranking in the second half of 2026.

Patterns shaping Indonesia's crude oil import picture in 2026:

• African supply dominates the current mix: Nigerian, Angolan, and Gabonese cargoes together reached US$2.63 billion (44.63%) of Indonesia's H1 2026 crude oil imports on TradeInt, reflecting light sweet grades that suit local refineries.
• Domestic production shortfalls compound import dependence: Ministry data show Rokan Block disruptions and Cepu Block natural decline are keeping supply below budgeted lifting, forcing a larger share of demand through imports.
• Prabowo administration targets oil-import self-sufficiency in three years: President Prabowo has set a target to stop importing oil and LPG within three years, a target that requires significant upstream investment against the current natural decline pattern at ageing fields.

How is the global crude oil import market performing in 2026?

Global crude oil import trade in 2026 has been reshaped by geopolitical risk premiums rather than demand strength, with world oil demand forecast to decline by 1.6 mb/d and global oil supply now projected to fall 4.3 mb/d to 102 mb/d, IEA stated in Aug 2026. Refinery throughputs stayed nearly 5 mb/d below year-earlier levels through July 2026.

Because benchmark crude prices swung across nearly US$40/bbl in July 2026 alone, importing countries with rigid refinery configurations paid outsized value premiums even where physical volumes stayed close to flat.

On the other hand, Asia's crude oil imports remained soft through August 2026 despite tighter Middle East supply, per Reuters commentary on Vortexa data reported by Dawn, pointing to Asian buyers drawing on prior stocks rather than chasing higher-priced cargoes.

Key signals for oil importing countries in 2026:

• Gulf production remains far below pre-war capacity: July 2026 Gulf output stood at 23.9 mb/d, still 8.3 mb/d below pre-war levels as maritime infrastructure attacks continued through July.
• Atlantic Basin refining margins hit record highs: Diesel, jet fuel, and gasoline cracks surged in July 2026 on tighter light and middle distillate markets, per the IEA.
• Seaborne product trade thinned by roughly a fifth: Diesel exports from Russia, the Middle East, and Asia ran 1.3 mb/d lower year-on-year (about 20% of global seaborne trade), while jet fuel exports from those regions fell 670 kb/d (34% of global trade).
• Observed oil inventories fell to a fresh low: Total observed stocks fell below 7.9 billion barrels by end-July 2026 for the first time since April 2025, with cumulative draws of 410 mb between February and July.

Where to source crude oil trade data and refinery buyers?

Sourcing crude oil trade intelligence starts with matching the data type to the use case, because refinery buyer research, origin diversification analysis, and counterparty vetting each need detailed trade data fields and time windows to verify trade transactions.

• Shipment-level trade records: TradeInt's Bill of Lading database holds 10B+ shipment records and 500M+ verified business profiles across 220+ countries, letting buyers trace crude consignments by HS code, importer name, origin country, and shipment period.
• IEA Oil Market Report: the monthly authoritative source for global supply, demand, refinery throughput, and OPEC+ production data across benchmark corridors.
• EIA Petroleum Supply & Data: the US government reference for domestic crude oil imports, exports, refinery inputs, and pipeline flows by country and origin.
• National statistical bodies: PPAC (India), Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (Indonesia), National Bureau of Statistics (China) publish country-level crude import volumes and values for their jurisdictions.

For counterparty verification and refinery-level shipment history beyond aggregate statistics, request trial access to global crude oil records and Bill of Lading profiles on TradeInt.

Conclusion

Crude oil import by country in 2026 concentrate on the United States at US$147.57 billion, India at US$16.14 billion, and Indonesia at US$5.90 billion under HS 270900, with Mexico, Iraq, and Nigeria leading each origin mix.

Because the IEA cut 2026 global supply to 102 mb/d as Gulf output stays 8.3 mb/d below pre-war levels, the H1 import table came in as a price story rather than a demand one - India's crude bill jumped 56.5% on near-flat volumes, and Indonesia's 5% below-target output leaves room for a new long-term Russian contract to reshape H2 origins.

Book a TradeInt demo to review HS 270900 shipment records by importer, origin corridor, and month.

Frequently asked questions

Which country imports the most crude oil in the world?

By value under HS 270900 in H1 2026, the United States is the largest crude oil importing country in the world at US$147.57 billion, followed by India at US$16.14 billion and Indonesia at US$5.90 billion. The IEA notes global refinery crude throughputs stood at 80.9 mb/d in July 2026, spread across the US, China, India, and other major refining hubs.

Is the US self-sufficient in oil?

No. The United States became a total petroleum net exporter in 2020 but remains a net crude oil importer, importing 6.28 million b/d of crude while exporting 3.58 million b/d in 2022, according to EIA data. Domestic light shale grades do not fully replace the heavier crudes that Gulf Coast refineries process, and Canada has historically supplied 60% of US crude oil imports through pipeline flows.

Who is the biggest supplier of crude oil in the world?

Saudi Arabian Oil Company is the largest single crude oil exporting company by value at US$13.78 billion in 2025 records, followed by Russia's Rosneft at US$6.64 billion. By producing country, the United States led 2025 crude production at 13.58 million barrels per day, ahead of Russia at 9.87 million and Saudi Arabia at 9.51 million.

Where does crude oil come from in the biggest importing countries?

Origin mixes differ sharply across the top three importers. The US draws the most from Mexico at a 16.17% share and Canada at 14.13%; India from Iraq at 19.89% and Russia at 17.92%; and Indonesia from Nigeria at 24.68% and Angola at 14.51%, based on H1 2026 records under HS 270900.