US Imports Oil From What Countries: The Real Map of American Energy

We're the biggest oil producer on the planet. Sounds like a total contradiction, right? If Texas and North Dakota are pumping out record-shattering amounts of crude—about 13.4 million barrels every single day—you’d think we’d be done with the rest of the world. But here’s the kicker: we aren't.

Honestly, the "energy independence" talk you hear on the news is a bit of a half-truth. While we export more than we bring in, the U.S. still hauled in over 8 million barrels of petroleum per day in 2024. Why? Because our refineries are picky eaters. They were built decades ago to digest "heavy, sour" crude from places like Mexico and Venezuela, but the stuff we pull out of the ground in the Permian Basin is "light and sweet."

Basically, we sell our high-quality steak to the world and buy cheaper ground beef from our neighbors to keep the grills running.

US Imports Oil From What Countries: The Big Five

If you think the Middle East is still our main gas station, you’re living in the 1970s. The map has shifted. Heavily.

1. Canada: The Undisputed King
Canada is, by far, the biggest answer to the question of us imports oil from what countries. They aren't just a partner; they're the lifeline. In 2024, Canada provided a staggering 61.7% of all U.S. crude imports. That’s more than 4 million barrels every day. Most of this comes from the oil sands in Alberta, traveling through massive arteries like the Enbridge network and the newly expanded Trans Mountain pipeline. If Canada stopped the flow, the American Midwest would basically grind to a halt within a week.

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2. Mexico: The Heavy Hitter
Mexico holds the silver medal, though it’s a distant second. They supply around 7% of our imports. The Maya crude they produce is exactly what Gulf Coast refineries crave. However, this relationship has been rocky lately. Mexico’s own domestic demand is rising, and their state-owned oil company, Pemex, has been trying to keep more of that oil at home for their new refineries.

3. Saudi Arabia: The Legacy Partner
Saudi Arabia is the only Middle Eastern country still in the top tier, providing about 4% to 5% of our imports. This is a far cry from the days when they could flip a switch and tank the U.S. economy. Today, we mostly buy from them to keep certain specialized refineries on the West Coast and Gulf Coast balanced.

4. Iraq: The Reliable Reserve
Iraq consistently sits around the 3% mark. Despite the geopolitical noise, Iraqi crude is a staple for U.S. refiners who need medium-grade oil that’s easy to process into diesel and jet fuel.

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5. Brazil: The Rising Star
Brazil has quietly become a massive player. Their offshore "pre-salt" fields are booming. In 2024, Brazil accounted for about 3.4% of our imports, often outperforming traditional OPEC members.

Why Geography and Chemistry Rule Everything

It’s not just about who has the oil. It’s about how much it costs to move it.

Pipelines are cheap. Tankers are expensive. This is why Canadian oil is so dominant—it’s basically a domestic product in terms of logistics. For a refinery in Illinois or Minnesota, Canadian crude is right next door. For a refinery in Houston, it’s often cheaper to bring in a ship from Mexico or even Guyana than it is to pipe oil across several state lines from the Bakken fields in North Dakota.

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Then there's the "Sour vs. Sweet" problem. Crude oil isn't just one thing.

• Light Sweet Crude: Low sulfur, easy to turn into gasoline. This is what the U.S. produces.
• Heavy Sour Crude: High sulfur, thick like molasses. This is what Canada and Mexico produce.

Our refineries are essentially giant, billion-dollar chemistry sets designed for the heavy stuff. To switch them over to only use American light crude would cost billions and take years. So, we trade.

The 2025-2026 Tariff Shake-up

As we've moved into 2025 and early 2026, the trade landscape has gotten... complicated. New tariffs—25% on imports from Canada and Mexico—have sent shockwaves through the energy sector. Because we are so dependent on Canadian heavy crude, these taxes don't just hurt the "foreigners." They hit the American driver.

Experts like Jeff Barron from the EIA have pointed out that while we are producing more than ever, these trade barriers can raise the "input cost" for refiners. When the refiner pays more for the raw oil, you pay more for the gallon of 87 octane at the Sunoco down the street. It’s a delicate balance between "buying American" and keeping the economy from overheating.

Breaking Down the OPEC Myth

People still blame OPEC for high gas prices, but their grip on the U.S. has slipped significantly. Back in 1977, OPEC countries supplied 70% of our imports. Today? It’s closer to 13-15% total.

We’ve diversified. We get oil from Guyana, which has seen a legendary production explosion. We get it from Nigeria and even (controversially) resumed some flows from Venezuela to help stabilize global markets. This diversification is the real reason the U.S. is more resilient to global shocks than it was 40 years ago. Even if the Persian Gulf closed tomorrow, the U.S. would be in a much better spot than Europe or Asia because of our "North American Fortress" of energy.

Actionable Insights for the Energy Conscious

Understanding us imports oil from what countries helps make sense of the world, but here is how it actually impacts you:

• Watch the Canadian Dollar: Because Canada is our primary supplier, the CAD/USD exchange rate can actually influence long-term fuel price trends in the Midwest.
• Refinery Location Matters: if you live on the East or West Coast, your gas is more likely to be influenced by global tanker prices and Middle Eastern/South American supply. If you’re in the "PADD 2" region (the Midwest), you’re almost entirely running on Canadian oil.
• Export vs. Import Reality: Don't be fooled by headlines saying "U.S. reaches energy independence." We are a net exporter in volume, but we will remain a major importer in variety for the foreseeable future because of our infrastructure's chemical needs.
• Infrastructure is Key: Support for pipeline maintenance and expansion (like the Line 5 in Michigan) often has a more direct impact on your local energy prices than who is currently leading an OPEC meeting in Vienna.