The United States became a net petroleum exporter in 2019 for the first time since 1973.
The milestone reflected a surge in American oil and gas production, especially from shale formations developed through horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. At the same time, domestic petroleum demand, imports, and exports shifted enough for the country’s combined petroleum trade balance to turn positive.
The Energy Information Administration identifies September 2019 as the first month in which U.S. petroleum exports exceeded imports since monthly records began in 1973. The change followed the lifting of long-standing restrictions on most U.S. crude-oil exports in 2015, which made it easier for domestic producers to sell crude abroad.
This does not mean the United States stopped importing oil. American refineries are often configured for crude grades that differ from those produced by domestic shale fields, so the country can export some petroleum while importing other supplies. Another common confusion is with total energy: the United States also became a net exporter of total energy in 2019, but that is a broader measure than petroleum alone.