US crude exports in April up 24% on month at 3.236 million bpd

London (Quantum Commodity Intelligence) – The United States exported 3.236 million bpd of crude oil in April, up 24% on the March figure and 12% on exports in April last year, according to data released Tuesday by the US Census Bureau.

A total of 7.638 million bpd of energy-related petroleum products were exported in April this year, an increase of 23% on the month and 9% on the year.

Meanwhile, imports of crude oil into the US dipped 1.4% on the month to 5.799 million bpd in April.

The flow of crude from Canada dropped 12.6% from March to 3.387 million bpd, with the slack picked up by Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Russia and a number of other countries across South America, Africa and the Middle East.

The ban on US crude exports was lifted in 2016, with volumes steadily increasing to over 3 mil bpd in 2020, before falling back in 2021 as global oil demand slumped.

The April figures mark a return to pre-pandemic levels, despite an overall fall in US production from 2019 peaks of around 14 million bpd.