American oil exports approach 300 billion dollars a year

The United States exported US$290.3 billion in oil in the twelve months ending in January 2026, including crude oil, refined derivatives and gases. In the same period, they imported 196.6 billion. The balance was positive at 93.8 billion dollars. The data are from the Census Bureau, the American government’s statistical institute.

To measure the size of this operation: Brazil, which has become an oil powerhouse in recent years, exported 55.6 billion dollars in oil, derivatives and gas in the twelve months up to February 2026. The United States moves more than five times as much oil as Brazil exports. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest exporter of crude oil, earns around 200 billion dollars a year from its foreign oil sales.

On the American side, the composition of exports is diversified. Of the 290.3 billion, crude oil accounted for 98.6 billion dollars, refined derivatives for 109.3 billion and petroleum gases for 82.5 billion. Compared to the previous year, crude oil and derivatives fell, but gases rose almost 30 percent and held the total.

This oil surplus of almost 94 billion dollars takes on new meaning now that the United States is at war with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz is practically closed. Around 20 percent of all the oil consumed in the world passes through there. A barrel of Brent, which was around 60 dollars before the conflict, reached almost 120 dollars and now fluctuates above 100.

But oil is only part of the story. Census Bureau data shows that the American trade agenda is changing rapidly on other fronts.

In imports, the big jump was in computers: from 145.5 billion to 264.7 billion dollars in twelve months, an increase of 82 percent. And the origin of these purchases has changed. Mexico has consolidated itself as the main supplier to the United States, with 535.7 billion dollars in total sales. China plummeted from 444.6 billion to 287.8 billion, a drop of 35 percent. Taiwan almost doubled, going from 119.1 billion to 212 billion. Vietnam rose from 140 billion to 200.4 billion.

In exports, apart from oil, three products attract attention. Civil aircraft, engines and parts generated US$154.3 billion, up 22 percent. Computers exported went from 41.4 billion to 66.2 billion, growth of 60 percent. And gold soared from 27.9 billion to 89.4 billion, more than tripling. Exports to Switzerland, the global gold trading hub, rose 214 percent.

In relations with Brazil, the Americans increased their surplus. Exports to the Brazilian market rose to 54.6 billion dollars, while imports from Brazil fell to 39 billion. Coffee remains a relevant import: Americans bought 12.75 billion dollars in coffee and exported just 1.1 billion.

Source: Census Bureau. Values ​​in current dollars. Accumulated for twelve months ending in January 2026.