Mexican crude oil shipments to Europe, Asia rising as US imports fall

Spain destination for new Mexican exports of light crude oil

In Sept. 2015, monthly U.S. crude oil imports from Mexico totaled 0.6 million barrels per day (b/d), the lowest level since 1990, and a decrease of about 50 per cent since Jan. 2011, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, with data from Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex).

Most of Mexico’s exports are of heavy crude oil, which Pemex defines as crude oil with an API gravity equal to or below 27 degrees.

Heavy crude oil volumes sent to U.S. Gulf Coast (Petroleum Administration for Defense District 3) refineries have fallen as new infrastructure has allowed greater volumes of Western Canadian Select heavy crude oil to reach PADD 3 refineries.

In addition, production of Maya crude oil from the offshore Cantarell field, traditionally Mexico’s largest oil field, has decreased significantly. As Mexican heavy crude oil exports to the United States have decreased, increasing volumes have been sold to Asian markets, especially India, and to a lesser extent South Korea and Japan.\

Greater volumes of heavy crude oil have been processed in Mexico’s domestic refineries, partially offsetting a decline in processed volumes of lighter domestic crude types.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, with data from Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex)

A drop in Mexican exports of light crude oil (API gravity above 38 degrees) to the United States has been largely offset by increased light crude exports to Europe, especially Spain.

Smaller volumes of Mexico’s light crude oil have been exported to European countries such as Italy, France, and the Netherlands.

Source: Mexican department of commerce online trade information system SIAVI Note: 2015 data reflect January through September.