The United States last week exported more crude oil and fuel than it imported for the first time on record, according to data released on Thursday, the same day OPEC ended a meeting without a The United States exports petroleum. Because the United States imports petroleum, it may seem surprising that it also exports petroleum. In 2018, total U.S. petroleum exports averaged about 7.6 MMb/d, which included about 2.0 MMb/d of crude oil or about 26% of total petroleum exports. The United States both imports and exports petroleum (a broad term that includes crude oil and refined products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuels, and other products; “petroleum” and “oil” are sometimes used interchangeably 1) in various quantities depending on cost and demand.Overall, the United States imports more than it exports, making it a net importer of petroleum.