EIA: U.S. Energy Exports Hit Record Highs in 2025

HOUSTON, TX (DTN) — The United States shattered its own energy trade records in 2025, exporting a record 31 quadrillion British thermal units, 2% higher than the volume recorded in 2024, the Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday (5/27).

Imports fell by 5% to 21 quadrillion BTUs in the same period, driving net exports to a historic 11 quadrillion BTUs, which was 20% above the prior record.

Petroleum remained the backbone of U.S. energy trade, representing 63% of all exports and 83% of all imports. Export growth has been fueled by the 2016 lifting of crude oil export restrictions, expanded domestic production and infrastructure, and rising global demand, the EIA said.

European nations, which banned seaborne Russian crude in 2022 and petroleum products in 2023, turned to U.S. supply to fill the gap. The Gulf Coast remained the nation’s only net petroleum-exporting region, producing enough to make the entire country a net petroleum exporter.

Natural gas ranked the second-largest share of exports at 29%, reaching a record 9 quadrillion BTUs, a fourfold increase since 2015 as LNG capacity expanded.

European demand for U.S. LNG surged following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Canada remained the primary source of natural gas imports, helping balance U.S. markets during high-demand winter periods.