U.S. Oil Imports at 23-Year-Low, Output Hits Another Record
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/us_oil_imports_at_23yearlow_output_hits_another_record-27-feb-2019-158262-article/The U.S. imported the least amount of crude oil on a weekly basis in 23 years, as OPEC-members Saudi Arabia and Venezuela cut their shipments to unusually low levels.
Weekly crude imports fell 1.61 million barrels a day to 5.92 million, the lowest level since 1996. Weekly imports from Saudi Arabia fell to 346,000 barrels a day for the week ending Feb. 22, the Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday. Domestic crude production skyrocketed to 12.1 million barrels a day.
The fall in imports comes as Venezuelan oil shipments drop due to U.S. sanctions against the government of Nicolas Maduro, and as Saudi Arabia curtails exports to the U.S. in an effort to reduce an oil glut in America. American crude stockpiles fell 8.65 million barrels last week.
Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said earlier that the Saudis are leaning toward extending oil-output cuts into the second half of this year. His remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted this week that oil prices are too high and called on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to relax production curbs. Last year, the Saudis boosted production to record levels after Trump expressed displeasure at rising prices....
