US net imports of distillate fuels fell to a record low of minus 980,000 b/d in April, as exports climbed while imports fell, data released by the US Energy Information Administration showed Thursday.
The data also showed the country's reliance on foreign sources of petroleum falling to the lowest level since 1996. Total net crude and product imports were 7.37 million b/d in April, down from 7.547 million b/d in March and the lowest since February 1996, when net imports were 7.342 million b/d.
The net crude and product import figure has tumbled from an all-time high 13.442 million b/d in August 2006, as the US has imported less crude and refined products, while ramping up product exports.
The US exported 1.078 million b/d of distillate fuel in April, primarily to Latin America and Europe -- the Netherlands alone took 117,000 b/d. That was up from 911,000 b/d in March. While below the all-time high 1.128 million b/d in December 2011, combined with a 38,000 b/d drop in distillate imports to 98,000 b/d, the export figure put net distillate imports at a new low.
At minus 980,000 b/d in April, net distillate imports exceeded the prior record of minus 954,000 b/d set in December 2011.
Those high distillate exports helped keep the US a net exporter of refined products in April. Total net imports averaged minus 1.189 million b/d during the month.
That was little changed from the minus 1.16 million b/d figure in March, but a far cry from April of last year, when the US was a net importer to the tune of 15,000 b/d. In April 2007, US net product imports were at 2.341 million b/d.
The US was also a net exporter of finished gasoline. Net imports were at minus 351,000 b/d in April, little changed on the month.
But the US was a net importer of gasoline blending components, exporting just 56,000 b/d and importing 721,000 b/d in April, the EIA data showed.
