<article><p class="lead">US crude exports held steady above 3.2mn b/d in September, showing resilience in the face of Covid-19-related headwinds. </p><p>China was the top buyer of US crude for a fifth consecutive month. </p><p>US crude exports averaged 3.24mn b/d in September, slightly lower than 3.25mn b/d in August, according to trade data released today by the US Census Bureau. </p><p>Crude exports have been up sharply after falling to 2.75mn b/d in June, as exports are recovering after efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic slashed global demand.</p><p>September exports were steady despite some shipping disruptions caused by Hurricane Sally and tropical storm Beta which hit the US Gulf coast. </p><p>China was the top destination for US crude loaded in September at about 712,000 b/d. Canada was the second top destination at about 537,000 b/d, and India was third with about 275,000 b/d.</p><p>Total US crude exports in September were up from 3.09mn b/d a year earlier.</p><p>US exports to China have been volatile this year. They hit a record high of 1.26mn b/d in May, up sharply from just 114,000 b/d in April, 108,000 b/d in March and zero in January and February.</p><p>Exports to China were expected to start ramping up at the start of this year after Beijing and Washington signed an interim trade deal that included commitments to purchase US energy products. But the timeline was delayed by the Covid-19 outbreak which caused many refiners in Shandong province to slash run rates because of travel restrictions. Fuel demand now is recovering in China. But US-China trade relations remain tense.</p><p>Since the US lifted 40-year-old restrictions on most oil exports in December 2015, US crude has been exported to countries around the globe.</p><p>For the full year of 2019, US crude exports averaged 2.98mn b/d, an annual record.</p><p>The monthly trade data comprises several categories of oil, including crude under 25°API, crude that is 25°API or higher, and condensate derived wholly from natural gas.</p><p class="bylines">By Eunice Bridges</p></article>
