The volume of petroleum products exported from the United States is a small portion of US consumption of those products. From 2000 through 2009, motor gasoline exports were generally 1%–2% of motor gasoline product supplied (a proxy for demand). From 2010 to mid-2011, they have averaged close to 4%, reaching a high in December 2010 of 5.8%. Distillate exports, which include diesel fuels and fuel oils, represent a more significant share of total available product. From 2000 to 2008, distillate exports were less than 10% of distillate product supplied in all but two months. From the beginning of 2009 to mid-2011, distillate exports were more than 10% of distillate product supplied, climbing up to about 20% at the end of last year and earlier this year.

US petroleum product exports as a percent of each product supplied, rolling three-month average. Source: EIA. Click to enlarge.

In petroleum product markets, Europe and Canada have been the traditional trading partners of the United States, with the volume of products shipped across the Atlantic tied in large part to the current price differences for delivery to the New York Harbor compared to Rotterdam, Amsterdam.

Over the last several years, other regions have become increasingly involved in the trade of petroleum products. Rising demand and tight supply in Latin America, together with a decline or leveling off of US product demand, have led to the growth in US exports to that region, the EIA says.