Canada is the biggest supplier of heavy crude to American refiners, exporting it at a rate of close to 4 million barrels daily, which makes it the biggest exporter of crude oil to the U.S. in general. Mexican crude oil exports north of the border are much smaller, at less than half a million barrels daily, but they still comprise the second-largest share of foreign oil in U.S. refiners’ mix. That fact may have played a role in Trump’s willingness to negotiate new trade deals quickly before the tariffs kick in and retaliation begins.
Venezuela boasts the largest proven oil reserves in the world, and US refiners are chewing through Venezuela’s heavy crude at an increasing pace, reaching a six-year high in December to 300,000 bpd. Venezuela’s oil is critical for US refiners such as Chevron and Valero.
West Texas Intermediate futures spiked as much as 1.5% from their settlement price after Trump made the comments to reporters at the White House. The gain just as quickly evaporated after he said he will decide later tonight on whether to include oil in the tariffs. WTI traded at $73.06 a barrel at 4:10 p.m. in New York.
Oil prices slipped for a second day on Thursday after U.S. crude stockpiles rose more than expected, though attention remained on tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump on Mexico and Canada, the two largest suppliers of crude to the United States.
According to commodity experts, the link between lower oil prices and foreign policy objectives is not a new one: historians have drawn a link between the 1985-86 oil price crash and the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, as well as the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991.
Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves on Earth, but its energy prowess is as much about quality as quantity. Refineries on the US Gulf Coast process Venezuelan crude by the hundreds of thousands of barrels per day. Volumes hit a six-year high in December, according to Kpler, reaching approximately 300 kbd – a 150 kbd year-on-year increase.
Oil edged lower as traders weighed the possible fallout from President Donald Trump’s planned tariffs on major U.S. crude supplier Canada and other countries. The market was also watching reports OPEC will evaluate potential changes to America’s energy policy.
Oil prices retreated on Monday after the Trump administration pulled back from sanctions threats against Colombia over illegal immigration, alleviating concern about oil supply disruptions. Washington swiftly reversed plans to impose tariffs and sanctions on Colombia after the South American country agreed to accept deported migrants from the United States.
One thing will have become extremely clear to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the lead-up to Donald Trump beginning his second stint as U.S. President.
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders aimed at reshaping the United States’ energy landscape. These orders mark the beginning of his administration’s efforts to increase energy independence and stimulate economic growth.