Reuters: US becomes world’s largest oil exporter

The United States has become the world’s largest oil exporter, overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia in a shift that is reshaping global energy flows amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, according to ship tracking data cited by Reuters.

The development marks a significant change in a global energy order that has long been dominated by Middle Eastern and Russian exports, with analysts pointing to sustained high US production and broader disruptions to rival suppliers.

U.S. exports of crude oil and refined fuels rose to about 10.5 million barrels per day in May, driven by strong output and the release of strategic reserves, according to data from Vortexa. This made the United States the top global exporter for the third consecutive month.

By comparison, Russian exports stood at about 7 million barrels per day in May, while Saudi Arabia exported roughly 5.9 million barrels per day, according to Reuters calculations and Vortexa data.

Over a broader timeframe, Saudi Arabia exported around 8.1 million barrels per day in 2025, while the United States shipped 6.6 million barrels per day, and Russia exported about 5.8 million barrels per day, according to Vortexa.

Analysts say the shift has been accelerated by geopolitical disruptions, including conflict-related instability affecting major producers.

With the U.S.-Iran war disrupting Saudi oil exports since February 2026 and Russian oil exports suffering from Ukrainian drone attacks and U.S. sanctions on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. has become the world's leading oil exporter.

Experts say Washington’s expanding energy role is giving it greater geopolitical leverage.

"Washington has a new tool they didn't realize they had before the Iran war — energy exports," said Michelle Brouhard, head of policy at ship tracking firm Kpler.

The rise in US exports has also raised questions about the long-term influence of OPEC and its allies, a group that has traditionally shaped global oil prices. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised OPEC for what he describes as market manipulation. The group also saw a setback in May when the United Arab Emirates reportedly left the organisation after nearly 60 years.

Russian officials have also expressed concern over shifting energy dynamics.

U.S. energy companies were the main beneficiaries of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Igor Sechin, the boss of the Kremlin oil major Rosneft and one of the closest allies of President Vladimir Putin, said this month.

Even before recent conflicts, however, US production had been steadily rising, with crude and liquids output nearly tripling to around 22 million barrels per day since 2000. By contrast, Saudi output has largely fluctuated between 10 and 12 million barrels per day over the same period, depending on OPEC quotas.

European Union officials, who previously welcomed increased US energy exports as an alternative to Russian and Middle Eastern supplies, have increasingly expressed concern over growing dependence on American energy markets.

By Sabina Mammadli