Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

US imports of Saudi oil set to drop as high prices and maintenance deter buyers

US imports of Saudi oil set to drop as high prices and maintenance deter buyers

US imports of Saudi Arabian crude are set to fall to the lowest level since October, as high prices and refinery maintenance deter buyers.
Shipments from the kingdom are forecast to drop to about 400,000 barrels per day in both February and March, from an average of 500,000 barrels per day in the three prior months, according to energy intelligence firm Kpler. American refineries typically conduct seasonal maintenance during February and
March, leaving additional volumes for Riyadh’s more-profitable Asian market. The planned repairs are set to conclude by the spring when refineries gear up for the high-demand summer season.

The dropoff comes as the White House tries to tame runaway inflation. US President Joe Biden has discussed global energy with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, according to a statement. So far, the kingdom has stuck to its plan to gradually increase output. Oil prices have already climbed above $90 a barrel amid ongoing geopolitical tensions over Eastern Europe, adding to inflation pressures for top consumers such as the US as pump prices surge to the highest levels in years.

Demand for the kingdom’s oil from American buyers has also been limited by placement of roughly 40mn barrels of high-sulphur oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which can replace Saudi crudes. The Middle East nation’s oil price hikes have also turned off some US buyers, allowing more volume to head east, traders said. More than 60% of Saudi Arabia’s exports typically go to Asian markets.

“Saudi is focused on keeping Asian clients happy, with volumes boosted so far this month to eastern Asia and China in particular,” said Matt Smith, an oil analyst at Kpler. “More barrels heading east has been the result of Saudi OSPs (Official Selling Price) to the US, which were hiked in January and March – and kept flat in February, while they were cut to Asia,” he added.

Last March, US imports of Saudi crude totalled 309,000 barrels per day, the lowest level seasonally since 1987, Energy Information Administration data show.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×