From oil embargo victim to global leader: US becomes world's top oil exporter

The United States has become the world's largest oil exporter, overtaking long-time energy giants Saudi Arabia and Russia in a dramatic shift, Reuters reported.

The development marks a remarkable turnaround for a country that spent decades dependent on West Asia oil and was severely affected by the Arab oil embargo of 1973.

Today, thanks to the shale revolution and surging domestic production, the US has emerged as the dominant force in global oil trade.

The latest change has been accelerated by disruptions to rival exporters. Saudi oil exports have been affected by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, while Russian exports have been hit by the US sanctions and attacks linked to the Ukraine war.

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US exports reach record levels

According to the Reuters report, which cited ship-tracking data from Vortexa, US exports of crude oil and refined fuels reached about 10.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in May, making America the world's largest oil exporter for the third consecutive month.

In comparison, Russian exports stood at around 7 million bpd, while Saudi Arabia exported about 5.9 million bpd during the same period, the report said.

The figures highlight a major shift from just a year ago. In 2025, Saudi Arabia remained the world's leading exporter with about 8.1 million bpd, while US exports stood at 6.6 million bpd.

Shale boom changed America's fortunes

America's rise has been driven by a surge in shale oil and gas production over the past 15 years.

According to the report, US crude and liquids production has nearly tripled since 2000, reaching about 22 million bpd. By contrast, Saudi production has largely remained between 10 million and 12 million bpd, while Russian output has stagnated in recent years.

The growth has helped meet much of the increase in global energy demand. Worldwide oil demand rose from 87 million bpd in 2010 to 104 million bpd last year, with a large share of that growth supplied by US producers, the report said.

A major turning point came in 2015 when Washington lifted a 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports, opening international markets to American producers.

New geopolitical influence

The rise of the US as the world's largest exporter could reduce the influence traditionally exercised by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and its allies.

Unlike Saudi Arabia and Russia, where governments play a central role in setting production targets, US output is largely determined by private companies responding to market prices. This creates a more flexible system that can quickly adjust to changing market conditions.

The shift is already changing trade flows. Europe now receives nearly half of all US oil exports, while Asian countries are increasingly turning to American supplies as an alternative to West Asian crude, the report added.

As the global energy landscape evolves, America's position as the leading exporter is giving Washington a new source of economic and geopolitical influence, adding to its military and financial power on the world stage.