Taking a Look at the U.S. Oil Imports

While doing some research for a paper I was writing, I came across the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) website which listed the largest exporters of crude oil to the U.S. Here is a list of the top 6:

Crude Oil Imports (Top 15 Countries) (Thousand Barrels per Day)
Country	Sep-10	Aug-10	YTD 2010	Sep-09	YTD 2009
CANADA	1,936	1,933	1,976	1,938	1,926
NIGERIA	1,107	942	1,021	886	720
MEXICO	1,098	1,158	1,116	1,124	1,119
SAUDI ARABIA	1,082	1,080	1,072	1,031	1,013
VENEZUELA	919	974	928	1,014	998
IRAQ	422	281	462	428	456

What struck me as odd was the U.S. rhetoric about the Canadian oil sands. It has been no secret that the Obama administration has never looked at the oil sands in a positive light. However, three facts remain clear.

1. Canada is the largest exporter of oil to the U.S.
2. With the exception of Mexico, none of the countries between #2 – #6 particularly like the U.S.
3. Mexico’s oil production has been on a sharp decline recently

Regimes like Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Iraq are a hot bed of terrorism. Venezuela has a dictator who openly detests the U.S. If the U.S. had a choice between dirty oil and dirty regimes, I would like to think that they choose the former.

In 2010 America ended up paying $101.7 billion to Nigeria, Saudi, Venezuela and Iraq combined. $101.7 billion can buy a lot of AK47s, IEDs, and bazookas. Either start using natural gas, or choose to send your money north. Get smart America!

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