2013 U.S. Crude Oil Production Expected to Reach 20-Year High

Business Insider’s Chart of the Day uses data from the Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook to illustrate the EIA’s projection for U.S. crude oil production.  2012 production is 6.3 million barrels per day (bbl/d).  The EIA predicts 2013 production will rise to its highest level in twenty years: 6.8 million bbl/d.  And while OPEC production represents 40% of the world’s oil supply, the EIA predicts OPEC production to drop significantly in 2013.  On the other hand, the Administration forecasts 2013 North American production to rise more than any other oil-producing region in the world.  The EIA also predicts global oil consumption to rise 0.9 million bbl/d to 89.94 million bbl/d.  Roughly half of this increase is due to Chinese oil consumption, which is predicted to climb 0.76 million bbl/d.

U.S. is Now a Net Exporter of Oil

Bloomberg reports that the U.S. now exports more oil products than it imports.  During 2011, America’s exports of gasoline, diesel fuel, and other products exceeded imports of those products by an average of 439,000 barrels each day.  The last time America was a net exporter of oil was in 1949, and 2011 marks the first year in which crude oil output rose above 2 billion barrels.  In its analysis of the oil sector, Citigroup Inc. proclaims North America as “the new Middle East” with regards to energy production this decade. Citigroup points to increased oil production in Canada and Mexico as the basis for this claim, and they additionally believe this jump in production will be sustainable in the coming years.