WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States’ importation of crude oil increased 7 percent during the first half of this year, the first such uptick since 2010, the US Department of Energy said in a press release Friday.
U.S. crude #oil imports increase during first half of 2016, the first increase since 2010 https://t.co/bweeCFqAWb #oilimports #energytrade pic.twitter.com/0Njplg1aXJ
— EIA (@EIAgov) 21 октября 2016 г.
"US gross crude oil imports increased by 528,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 7 percent, during the first half of 2016 compared to the first half of 2015," the release from the department’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) stated. "This increase reverses a multiyear trend of decreasing US crude oil imports as a result of increasing US production."
A significant factor in the increase during the first six months of 2016 was a change in price spreads for crude, according to the release.
The EIA forecasts increased annual US imports of crude for both 2016 and 2017, the release added.
