*The US overtook Saudi Arabia as the world’s top oil exporter last year, shipping 8.53mn b/d (MEES, 21 February): 2.98mn b/d of crude (up 50% on 2018’s previous record) , 1.81mn b/d of NGLs and 3.75mn b/d of refined products and blendstock.

*But this is only part of the story. The US of course remains a massive oil importer, second only to China (MEES, 17 January). Indeed for 2019 as a whole, US imports of 9.07mn b/d (including 6.78mn b/d of crude) meant the US remained a modest net importer to the tune of 540,000 b/d. (CONTINUED - 179 WORDS)