This list reveals the top 10 crude oil importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2015, world crude oil imports totaled US$804.2 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $10.1 billion worth of crude oil led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $8.5 billion
2. Morocco: $1.1 billion
3. Zambia: $394.4 million
4. Cote d'Ivoire: $88.6 million
5. Egypt: $22.7 million
6. Ghana: $741,000
7. Ethiopia: $469,000
8. Nigeria: $350,000
9. Swaziland: $245,000
10. Togo: $85,000
Asian Importers
Asia imported $379.9 billion worth of crude oil led by the following countries:
1. China: $134.3 billion
2. India: $72.3 billion
3. South Korea: $55.1 billion
4. Japan: $45 billion
5. Thailand: $19.5 billion
6. Singapore: $18.2 billion
7. Taiwan: $16.1 billion
8. Indonesia: $8.1 billion
9. Philippines: $4 billion
10. Malaysia: $3.3 billion
European Importers
Europe imported $233.6 billion worth of crude oil led by the following countries:
1. Germany: $36.4 billion
2. Netherlands: $25.2 billion
3. Spain: $24.8 billion
4. Italy: $23.7 billion
5. France: $22.9 billion
6. United Kingdom: $18.4 billion
7. Belgium: $14.5 billion
8. Poland: $9.9 billion
9. Greece: $8.1 billion
10. Sweden: $7.2 billion
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $15.1 billion worth of crude oil led by the following countries:
1. Brazil: $7.4 billion
2. Chile: $2.9 billion
3. Peru: $1.6 billion
4. Uruguay: $850.2 million
5. Saint Lucia: $828.3 million
6. Trinidad/Tobago: $399 million
7. Argentina: $353.8 million
8. Dominican Republic: $313.3 million
9. Nicaragua: $300.8 million
10. Netherlands Antilles: $138.5 million
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $10.1 billion worth of crude oil led by the following countries:
1. Israel: $4.6 billion
2. Bahrain: $3.9 billion
3. Jordan: $1.3 billion
4. United Arab Emirates: $216.1 million
5. Iran: $122 million
6. Qatar: $31,000
North American Importers
North America imported $145.8 billion worth of crude oil led by the following countries:
1. United States: $132.6 billion
2. Canada: $13.2 billion
3. Mexico: $11,000
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $9.6 billion worth of crude oil led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $7.3 billion
2. New Zealand: $2.2 billion
3. Papua New Guinea: $93.3 million
4. Fiji: $18,000
5. Vanuatu: $6,000
6. French Polynesia: $5,000
7. Samoa: $1,000
To see the 25 fastest-growing crude oil importers from 2011 to 2015, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage decline for globally imported crude oil was -51%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Oil Importers 2015
Fastest-Growing Oil Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
