The US imported the most jet fuel for the month of March in five years, pulling more barrels than usual from the other side of the world, US Energy Information Administration data showed Thursday.
The US imported 2.81 million barrels of jet fuel in March, the latest reporting month, up from 2.62 million barrels in February and 558,000 barrels in March 2013. It was the highest March pull since 2.85 million barrels in 2009, which was near the start of a declining trend for US jet imports.
India exported 709,000 barrels of jet fuel in March for its highest level since March 2007. Saudi Arabia sent 592,000 barrels, its high since February 2007. Thailand sent 117,000 barrels, only the second time it has exported jet fuel to the US.
South Korea and Venezuela are the typical pulls for jet fuel into the US, and had 600,000 barrels and 613,000 barrels, respectively, which is about two normal-sized cargoes each.
But the March variety continues a trend of late, with 1.1 million barrels sent from Bahrain in February, only the second time the US has imported jet fuel from the Middle Eastern country.
China sent 450,000 barrels in October for its largest month of exports into the US. A 353,000-barrel cargo came from Kuwait in January, while a partial cargo of 63,000 barrels came from Algeria in February. None of them have been regular shippers to the US.
The mix comes as the East Coast, especially Florida, looks farther afield for jet fuel despite plenty produced in the US Gulf Coast. But that source is harder to tap due to the paucity of barges used mostly for hauling crude and the Jones Act requirements for the use of a US-flagged ship between US ports.
The US has actually turned into a net exporter of jet fuel in the last five years. It exported 4.32 million barrels in March, up 264,000 barrels from February. Canada was the biggest destination with 1.29 million barrels, followed by Panama with 733,000 barrels.
