"Did Trump Anticipate This?" Export Orders Surge Amid War... Record-High Export Volume
by Lee Sungmin
Published 25 Apr.2026 15:21(KST)
Updated 25 Apr.2026 19:42(KST)
Asia and Europe Ramp Up Imports of U.S. Crude Oil and LNG
"Sustainability After the War Is Limited"
After the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle East war, U.S. crude oil and petroleum product exports have reached an all-time high.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on April 24 (local time) that Asia and Europe, which have been blocked from importing energy from the Middle East, are now purchasing U.S. crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. exports of crude oil and petroleum products averaged 12.9 million barrels per day last week, setting a new record high. Shipping data company Kpler indicated that U.S. crude oil and LNG exports to Asia during the past two months increased by about 30% compared to the same period last year.
This is because the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has cut off Middle Eastern energy supplies, leaving Asian countries, which were highly dependent on the region, with no choice but to purchase U.S. energy to make up for the shortfall.
However, experts believe this trend is unlikely to persist after the war. This is due to the fact that refining facilities in Asian countries are designed specifically for Middle Eastern crude oil, which creates limitations in processing U.S. crude. In particular, if lower-density U.S. crude oil is processed in the same facilities as Middle Eastern oil, efficiency drops, and modifying the infrastructure would require enormous costs.
Parul Bakshi, a researcher at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, stated, "It would cost a huge sum to completely overhaul Asia’s refining facilities, and just the design phase could take several months. It may take years until full operation is achieved."
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