The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on Wednesday that April saw record-high levels of crude and petroleum exports from the United States, with total shipments reaching 13.6 million barrels per day (bpd). That total represents a 15% rise from the previous monthly record set in March.
Within that aggregate, crude oil made up the largest share, averaging 5.6 million bpd in April. The EIA noted this crude export figure exceeded the earlier high recorded in December 2023 by 21%.
Propane exports were the second-largest contributor to the April record. For the first time in the monthly dataset, propane shipments surpassed 2.0 million bpd, according to the EIA's figures.
Distillate fuel oil accounted for the third-largest portion of U.S. petroleum exports in April, rising to 1.6 million bpd. The EIA indicated this was the highest level for distillate exports since July 2017.
Broader finished petroleum product exports - a category that includes distillate fuel oil, motor gasoline, jet fuel, and petroleum coke - reached their strongest monthly levels since December 2024, the EIA reported.
The EIA linked the increase in U.S. export demand in part to disrupted energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war, which contributed to greater reliance on U.S. shipments during April. The agency's data show that the combined rise across crude, propane, and distillate volumes underpinned the overall record total for the month.
Data breakdown
- Total U.S. crude and petroleum exports in April: 13.6 million bpd (record).
- Increase from March's record: 15%.
- Crude oil exports: 5.6 million bpd, 21% above the December 2023 record.
- Propane exports: first monthly reading above 2.0 million bpd.
- Distillate fuel oil exports: 1.6 million bpd, highest since July 2017.
- Finished petroleum product exports: highest since December 2024.
Markets and sectors influenced
The EIA figures point to pronounced activity in crude shipments and specific refined products, with implications for energy exporters, refiners, and maritime transport sectors that handle bulk petroleum movements. The data illustrate concentration in a few product categories - crude, propane, and distillates - that together pushed overall export volumes to record levels.