April sets monthly record for net distillate exports

One of the main drivers behind the United States' transformation from a net petroleum product importer to a net petroleum product exporter over the last several years has been the increase in distillate exports. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) monthly data indicate the increase in net exports of distillates has continued largely unabated in 2012, with net exports of distillate fuels in April registering 981,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) (Figure 1), the highest volume since monthly U.S. trade data have been recorded. The distillate trade balance for April reflects both a near-record level of exports and a sluggish flow of imports.

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In the first four months of this year, gross distillate exports have averaged 947,000 bbl/d, a 215,000-bbl/d (29-percent) increase compared with the same period in 2011. This average was supported by an April number that was the strongest to date in 2012 at slightly less than 1.1 million bbl/d, a 206,000-bbl/d (24-percent) increase over April 2011. The April exports also represent the second highest monthly total ever.

Sustained high levels of gross distillate exports have been supported by growth in global demand for distillate fuels, especially in the developing economies not part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (non-OECD). According to International Energy Agency (IEA) data, non-OECD demand for gas/diesel oil (a product category similar to EIA's distillate fuels) grew 403,000 bbl/d (3 percent) from April 2011 to April 2012. Due to global demand growth, distillate margins for refiners have generally been strong in recent years compared to those for other fuels. This has encouraged the production of distillate at U.S. refineries.

The largest destination for U.S. distillate exports is the Central and South America region and Mexico, a market where demand for distillate fuels has been robust, outstripping the ability of refineries in the region to satisfy this demand. In the first four months of this year, 60 percent of U.S. distillate exports went to Central and South America or Mexico, up from 57 percent for the same period last year. Growth in exports to those markets alone accounted for all of the year-over-year increase in exports for April, with exports to Central and South America up 223,000 bbl/d (58 percent) and exports to Mexico up 44,000 bbl/d (55 percent). This was partially offset by a weak month for distillate exports to Western Europe, another important market for U.S. distillate fuels. Exports to Western Europe were 62,000 bbl/d (19 percent) lower than April 2011. However, exports to Western Europe for all of 2012 are still up year-over-year, as reduced European refining capacity has worked to offset weak demand on the continent.