EIA: US increases propane exports in 2015

Total U.S. petroleum product exports increased in 2015, up 467,000 barrels per day (bpd) over 2014 levels. The United States exported 4.3 million bpd of petroleum products in 2015. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the rise in exports was driven by increased exports of distillate fuel, motor gasoline and propane.

Exports of distillate fuel oil represent the largest component of U.S. petroleum product exports, averaging 1.19 million bpd in 2015, which is an increase of 85,000 bpd over 2014 levels. Motor gasoline was the second largest U.S. petroleum product export component, averaging 618,000 bpd in 2015, which is an increase of 68,000 bpd over 2014 levels. U.S. exports of propane nearly matched those of motor gasoline in 2015 at 615,000 bpd, which is up 193,000 bpd from 2014 levels.

EIA says low U.S. propane prices have encouraged the expansion of propane export capacity since 2013. Most U.S. propane exports were sent to Asia in 2015, averaging 220,000 bpd. EIA adds that Asia is expected to be the leading source of global propane consumption growth, with an expanding petrochemical sector as the main driver.