Which country is the world's largest net exporter of oil?

Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest net exporter of oil.

The kingdom exports far more petroleum than it consumes, making oil a central pillar of its economy and international trade. Saudi Arabia is also the leading crude-oil exporter and a founding member of OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Its exports are supplied largely by Saudi Aramco, the state-controlled energy company.

Saudi crude reaches global customers through terminals on both the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Ras Tanura is the country’s best-known export terminal, while Yanbu provides an important route that avoids the Strait of Hormuz. This geography gives Saudi Arabia unusual flexibility in moving oil to Asian, European and other markets.

“Net exporter” means exports exceed imports; it is not the same as being the largest producer. The United States has often led crude-oil production, while Russia, Iraq, Canada and the United Arab Emirates are also major exporters. Rankings can shift slightly depending on whether statistics count crude alone or all petroleum liquids and refined products.