The United States exported more energy in 2019, than it imported, marking the first year when energy export volume surpasses import, according to the US Energy Information Administration in its Monthly Energy Review. US gross energy exports reached a record-high of 23.6 quadrillion Btu (quads) last year, compared to imports of 22.8 quads.
US net energy imports have been declining since the peak of 30 quads in 2005. In 2019, net energy imports fell to 0.8 quads from 3.6 quads in 2018, marking the most significant decline in net energy imports since 1980. This decline was mostly driven by the increase in crude oil and natural gas exports, EIA said. Meanwhile, exports of other energy sources remained similar to the previous year’s levels.
US net crude oil imports fell by 31% or 4.1 quads (about 1.9 million bpd) from 2018 to 2019. Gross exports of petroleum products, which accounted for the majority of US energy exports, decreased from a record high in 2018.
US gross natural gas exports reached a record of 4.7 quads (roughly 12.8 Bcfd) in 2019, rising by 29% from 2018. Meanwhile, US gross natural gas imports fell by 5% over the same period. US gross coal exports decreased by 20% in the same period, while gross coal imports increased by 12%.
