According to the EIA’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR) released this morning for the week ended August 7, net imports surged 1.8 MMb/d to 4.3 MMb/d (red dashed oval in chart below), their highest weekly level since June 2025. Put simply, net imports measure the amount of crude entering the U.S. minus the amount shipped overseas. When net imports rise, more barrels are effectively staying at home, adding to the domestic crude supply available to refiners or storage.
Last week the U.S. crude balance was a reprieve from fears in recent months of a global crude shortage, with imports jumping and exports sinking. As discussed in this week’s Crude Oil Billboard, imports soared 1.1 MMb/d to 7.4 MMb/d, the highest volume since November 2024. Meanwhile, as discussed in this week's Crude Voyager, exports plunged just 3 MMb/d. The swing was especially dramatic on the Gulf Coast, where PADD 3 imports leapt nearly 800 Mb/d to 1.9 MMb/d. With more crude pouring in and fewer barrels heading offshore, PADD 3 inventories ballooned by 15 MMbbl, accounting for the lion’s share of the nationwide crude stock build.
Comments
on a weekly basis, oil imports appear to be at a 20 month high...
https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=WCRIMUS2&f=W
In reply to on a weekly basis, oil… by r.j. sigmund
Correct. The title mentioning a 14-month high is in reference to net imports (imports - exports) which hit the highest number since June 2025.
Crude imports independently, which I believe you're referring to, as discussed in the second paragraph, rose to their highest level since November 2024. Hopefully this provides more clarity to the insight!