Data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that the country exported 5.4 million bpd of petroleum products in the first half of 2020, an increase by 48,000 bpd (1%) from the corresponding period in 2019. The rise in propane and other hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs) exports offset declines in shipments of gasoline, distillate fuel oil, and jet fuel, EIA said.
Propane also overtook distillate fuel oil as the top petroleum product exported by the US. The country shipped 1.22 million bpd of propane in the period, compared to distillate fuel oil exports of 1.21 million bpd. Propane exports jumped 17% year-on-year in January-June, while distillate fuel oil exports fell 6% year-on-year. Most of US propane exports during the period went to Asia, where companies use it as a petrochemical feedstock. In March, China issued tariff waiver for importing US LPG, including propane and became the fourth-largest export market for the gas, behind Japan, Mexico, and South Korea.
Distillate fuel oil is mostly used as diesel for road transportation. Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Panama were the four largest export markets for US distillate fuel oil during the period. However, exports to some markets such as Mexico and Brazil declined by 14% and 17%, respectively. Motor gasoline exports stood at 735,000 bpd in the first half of 2020, decreasing by 148,000 bpd (17%) from a year earlier. Meanwhile, exports of jet fuel (kerosene) fell to 134,000 bpd in the period, 71,000 bpd (35%) lower than a year earlier.
