Russia is one of the world’s largest oil producers and exporters. In recent years, it has consistently ranked as the second or third largest supplier of crude oil and petroleum products to the United States. Understanding how much oil the U.S. imports from Russia on a daily basis provides insight into energy security and the potential impacts of geopolitical events on global oil supplies.
Quick Answers
– In 2021, the U.S. imported an average of 209,000 barrels per day of crude oil and 500,000 barrels per day of other petroleum products from Russia.
– This means the U.S. imported around 709,000 barrels per day of oil and oil products from Russia in 2021.
– Oil imports from Russia accounted for about 3% of total U.S. oil and oil product imports in 2021.
– The amount of U.S. oil imports from Russia has declined significantly over the past decade, from a high of 279 million barrels in 2008 to 103 million barrels in 2021.
– Canada, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia currently supply more oil to the U.S. than Russia.
How Much Crude Oil Does the U.S. Import from Russia?
According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the United States imported an average of 209,000 barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil from Russia in 2021.
This was down from 241,000 b/d imported from Russia in 2020 and 366,000 b/d in 2019. The decline reflects a longer-term downward trend in U.S. crude oil imports from Russia:
| Year | Average U.S. crude oil imports from Russia (thousand barrels per day) |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 279 |
| 2010 | 166 |
| 2015 | 119 |
| 2019 | 366 |
| 2020 | 241 |
| 2021 | 209 |
In 2008, when oil prices were peaking at over $140 per barrel, the U.S. imported a record high annual average of 279,000 b/d of Russian crude. Imports began declining the following year and dropped to just 119,000 b/d in 2015 as U.S. domestic shale oil production ramped up.
The amount ticked up between 2018-2020 as OPEC curtailed production to bolster prices. But in 2021, crude imports from Russia fell back to just 209,000 b/d – about 25% below the level a decade earlier.
Russia Accounts for 3% of U.S. Crude Oil Imports
To put the 209,000 b/d of Russian crude imports into perspective, Russia accounted for just about 3% of total U.S. crude oil imports in 2021.
The top sources of imported crude oil to the U.S. that year were:
- Canada: 3.5 million b/d (52% of total imports)
- Mexico: 672,000 b/d (10%)
- Saudi Arabia: 454,000 b/d (7%)
- Russia: 209,000 b/d (3%)
So while Russia is a major crude oil producer globally, it is not a leading source of imported oil for the United States. Canada and OPEC nations like Saudi Arabia and Iraq supply the bulk of foreign crude to meet U.S. demand.
How Much in Total Oil and Products Does the U.S. Import from Russia?
Looking beyond just crude oil, the EIA data shows the U.S. imported around 500,000 barrels per day (b/d) of non-crude petroleum products like gasoline, diesel, and other fuels from Russia in 2021.
Adding this to the 209,000 b/d of crude oil imports means the total oil and oil product imports from Russia averaged about 709,000 b/d in 2021.
The total breakout was:
- Crude oil: 209,000 b/d
- Petroleum products: 500,000 b/d
- Total: 709,000 b/d
So in round numbers, the U.S. imported about 700,000 barrels per day of Russian oil and fuels in 2021, whether directly as crude or refined into products like gasoline.
Russia Accounts for 3% of All U.S. Oil Imports
Placing this into context of total U.S. oil imports again shows Russia supplied around 3% of all foreign oil and petroleum products that the U.S. imported in 2021.
The sources of total U.S. oil and product imports that year were:
- Canada: 4.1 million b/d (52%)
- Mexico: 906,000 b/d (12%)
- Saudi Arabia: 513,000 b/d (7%)
- Russia: 709,000 b/d (9%)
- Other countries: 1.6 million b/d (20%)
So Russia falls behind Canada, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia among sources of foreign oil imports to the U.S. market.
How Have Oil Imports from Russia Changed Over Time?
Oil imports from Russia have declined substantially over the past 15 years or more for the United States.
As shown in the table below, total imports of crude oil and petroleum products from Russia peaked at over 1 million barrels per day in the mid-2000s when oil prices were surging above $100 per barrel.
| Year | U.S. oil imports from Russia (million barrels per year) |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 123 |
| 2005 | 180 |
| 2008 | 279 |
| 2010 | 158 |
| 2015 | 104 |
| 2019 | 133 |
| 2020 | 103 |
| 2021 | 103 |
But as U.S. oil production has grown dramatically and OPEC has cut output at times, American refiners have sourced more oil domestically and from OPEC suppliers like Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
U.S. oil imports from Russia declined to around 100-130 million barrels per year between 2015-2021 – down 50% or more compared to the peak levels of the mid-2000s.
So the American oil supply has become far less reliant on Russia over time.
Why Do Oil Imports from Russia Matter?
Understanding how much oil the U.S. imports from Russia provides insight into several important issues:
Energy Security
Seeing that Russia only supplies 3% of U.S. oil imports suggests America would not face major crude supply disruptions if imports from Russia were halted. Canada, Mexico, and OPEC countries could potentially offset a loss of Russian barrels.
Oil Prices
However, global oil prices would still likely spike if Russian exports were disrupted, even if the U.S. didn’t directly lose much supply. Prices reflect global market impacts, and Russia is the world’s 2nd largest crude exporter globally after Saudi Arabia.
Geopolitical Influence
The fact U.S. oil imports from Russia have fallen by 50% despite Russia being a top global producer demonstrates that market forces and policies can significantly reduce reliance on energy from geopolitical rivals if needed.
But energy security concerns may persist in Europe given its heavier reliance on Russian natural gas supplies.
Conclusion
In 2021, the United States imported an average of about 700,000 barrels per day of crude oil and other petroleum products from Russia. This accounted for around 3% of total U.S. oil imports.
While Russia is a major player in global oil, imports from Russia make up a relatively modest portion of the U.S. oil supply. The U.S. now relies more heavily on countries like Canada, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia for imported oil.
Oil imports from Russia have also declined by over 50% from their peak in the mid-2000s. So the American oil supply has become less leveraged to Russia over time thanks to rising domestic production, more OPEC imports, and declines in total oil import demand.
However, global oil prices would still be impacted by any disruption to Russian oil exports. While the U.S. doesn’t directly import much Russian oil, Russia is the world’s second largest crude exporter. Limiting Russia’s exports would constrain global oil supplies.
The evolving oil trade relationships between the U.S., Russia, and OPEC reflect how market conditions, technologies like shale drilling, and policy decisions continue to reshape global energy security and geopolitics.
