EIA: 2025 Middle East Crude Imports at 8% of U.S. Inflow


   
   HOUSTON, TX (DTN) - Middle East crude imports accounted for just 8% of total 
U.S. oil inflows for last year, although refinery disruptions expose a critical 
vulnerability in the nation's energy supply chain, an analysis issued Monday 
(4/6) by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed.

   The United States imported an average of 490,000 bpd from the Middle East 
Gulf in 2025, including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, the EIA said in the 
analysis. Separately, the agency's Short-Term Energy Outlook published on March 
10 showed total U.S. oil supply averaged 20 million bpd last year, including 
imports from all regions.

   The EIA's annual petroleum data showed Middle East imports alone averaging 
561,000 bpd in 2024, putting last year's volume from the region down 13% 
year-on-year.

   The 8% supply from the Middle East came amid disruption to inflows of medium 
sour crude, the workhorse grade for refineries along the U.S. West and Gulf 
Coasts. Nearly 88% of Middle East Gulf imports carry that designation -- grades 
that domestic light sweet production simply cannot replace.

   The supply squeeze has already moved markets. In March, Mars crude -- a 
medium sour benchmark -- has flipped to a $1-per-barrel premium over Light 
Louisiana Sweet, reversing its typical discount.

   Also last month, the Trump administration authorized a release from the 
Strategic Petroleum Reserve, targeting medium sour volumes to stabilize 
refinery supply chains. President Trump authorized the Department of Energy to 
release 172 million bbl from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a drawdown 
expected to take approximately 120 days to deliver based on planned discharge 
rates.

   At the end of 2025, the SPR held 415.6 million barrels, according to the 
EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report for the week ended December 27. That SPR 
holding is equivalent to roughly 125 days of U.S. crude oil net imports, 
providing a substantial buffer as officials monitor conditions in the Middle 
East.




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