U.S. Department of Energy Information Administration news feed provides statistics analysis at your fingertips. Stay informed during one of the most volatile energy periods in history.
- China imported record amounts of crude oil in 2023
China, the world's largest importer of crude oil, imported 11.3 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil in 2023, 10% more than in 2022, according to China customs data. Refiners in China imported record volumes of crude oil in 2023 to supply the country's increasing refining capacity in order to support the country's transportation fuel needs and produce feedstocks for its growing petrochemical industry.
- The United States exported a record volume of natural gas in 2023
The United States exported 10% more natural gas in 2023 than in 2022, a record of 20.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), according to our Natural Gas Monthly. U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports accounted for more than half of all U.S. natural gas exports, and natural gas exports by pipeline to Canada and Mexico accounted for the remainder.
- Natural gas filled in most of the drop in solar generation in Texas during April 8 eclipse
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse briefly but fully obscured sunlight to utility-scale solar electric generation facilities along the eclipse's path, from Texas through Maine. Texas was especially affected because of how much solar capacity was in the path of totality.
- Mild winter weather may lead to persistently high natural gas inventories through 2025
U.S. working natural gas inventories ended the winter heating season (November 1 —March 31) at 2,290 billion cubic feet (Bcf), 39% more than the previous five-year (2019 —23) average. Relatively high natural gas inventories all winter have contributed to record-low Henry Hub natural gas spot prices. The surplus to the five-year average grew over winter 2023—24 because of mild weather, low natural gas consumption, and high natural gas production. In our April Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we expect natural gas inventories to remain relatively high and natural gas spot prices to remain relatively low through 2025.
- How accurate were EIA's Winter Fuels Outlook forecasts?
Every October, in our Winter Fuels Outlook, we publish forecasts for residential energy consumption, prices, and expenditures for the upcoming winter months. Generally, these forecasts have performed well. Our October forecasts for energy expenditures during the five-month period from November 2023 through March 2024 were within 3% of our final estimates for homes primarily heated with natural gas, electricity, and propane. Estimated energy expenditures for homes primarily heated with heating oil were 13% lower than our October forecast because of mild winter weather and lower-than-expected crude oil prices.
