a world of energy

March 29, 2007

Americans get oil from many sources - and this makes supplies more secure.

When Americans fill their tanks with gasoline, where in the world does the oil used to make it come from? The most likely country of origin is our own. Approximately one third of the oil

Americans consume every day is produced in the United States.

Our neighbors Canada and Mexico are also major suppliers, accounting for over 20 percent of total U.S. crude oil consumption last year.

Oil-producing countries in the Middle East are important sources, and have been reliable ones for decades. In 2006, oil imported from this region met about 15 percent of Americans' needs. In all, Americans imported oil from over 35 countries last year, ranging from Norway to Nigeria, Brazil to Brunei. Consider this:

Two-thirds of the oil Americans consumed in 2006 was produced in North and South America.

• The top three exporters of oil to the United States last year (in order) were Canada, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.
• Countries in Africa are emerging as major suppliers of oil to the United States, accounting for as much as the Middle East last year.

The world market for oil is highly interconnected and diversified. This diversity enhances U.S. energy security. A truly global market in oil, with multiple suppliers around the world, helps to mitigate the impact on the United States if supplies are disrupted in any one country or region.

The Middle East is important because of its huge oil reserves and the fact that much of the world's spare production capacity is found there. But it is important to remember that many different oil producers are competing for access to American consumers.

In this global market, U.S. energy security is best served by maintaining trading relationships with as many suppliers as possible. Trying to reduce imports from any one country or region reduces our supply options. The United States is part of a world of energy. And that helps make Americans more secure.