How long can the US sustain its oil supply leadership?
Core argument: Assuming the release rate of about 1.2 million barrels a day continues until the final drop, Washington has another 117.
Over the last four weeks, US net exports of crude and refined products have averaged a record high of 5.9 million barrels a day, up from 3.3 million a year ago. Only a decade ago, the US was a net importer in excess of 5 million. Last week, the US put into the market more than 1.23 million barrels a day from the SPR, the highest weekly volume ever — and well above naysayers’ predictions that the emergency stockpile wouldn’t be able to do anything near 1 million, let alone more. Through last week, the SPR has released about 31 million barrels since Trump tapped it. Assuming the release rate of about 1.2 million barrels a day continues until the final drop, Washington has another 117 days — or the beginning of September. Trump could order further releases, but that will push an already weakened SPR to its limit. After the full loan is released, the reserve would be left with 242 million barrels, the lowest since the early 1980s.

