See more visuals like this on the Voronoi app.
Mapped: The World’s Crude Oil Trade Flows by Region
See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- The Persian Gulf exported 16.4 million barrels per day (Mb/d) of crude in 2024, more than the CIS, Africa, and Central & South America combined.
- The largest single flow in 2024 was from the Persian Gulf to China at 5.1 Mb/d, as Asia absorbed roughly 80% of Gulf crude exports.
- North America shipped 9.2 Mb/d of crude but netted just 2.1 Mb/d, reflecting heavy two-way trade in light and heavy grades.
Crude oil is the most heavily traded commodity on Earth, and the routes it takes reveal the real map of global energy power: a handful of exporting regions feeding a demand center that has shifted decisively toward Asia.
This visualization maps crude oil trade between major world regions in 2024, measured in millions of barrels per day. The data comes from the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy and UN Comtrade.
Only flows greater than 200,000 barrels per day are shown, and intraregional trade is excluded.
The Persian Gulf Anchors Global Crude Supply Flows
The Persian Gulf remains the world’s oil export powerhouse. In 2024, the region shipped 16.4 Mb/d of crude, more than the CIS and Africa combined. Its dominance matters because most of those barrels flow to Asia, making Gulf production one of the most important pillars of the global energy system.
The data table below shows crude oil trade flows by region, with each region’s 2024 inflows and outflows in million barrels per day:
| Million barrels/day (Mb/d) | North America Inflows | Europe Inflows | China Inflows | India Inflows | Japan & South Korea Inflows | Rest of Asia Pacific Inflows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America Outflows | n/a | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| S. & Cent. America Outflows | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | <0.2 | <0.2 | 0.2 |
| CIS Outflows | <0.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.7 | <0.2 | <0.2 |
| Persian Gulf Outflows | 0.6 | 2.2 | 5.1 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 1.9 |
| Africa Outflows | 0.4 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | <0.2 | 0.4 |
The Persian Gulf’s reach is overwhelmingly eastward. Of the Gulf’s exports, around 13.2 Mb/d headed to Asia in 2024: 5.1 Mb/d to China, 4.2 Mb/d to Japan & South Korea, 2.0 Mb/d to India, and 1.9 Mb/d to the rest of the Asia-Pacific. Europe took another 2.2 Mb/d, while just 0.6 Mb/d crossed to North America.
Besides the Persian Gulf, Europe was primarily supplied from three other regions: 2.3 Mb/d from Africa, 2.2 Mb/d from North America, and 2.2 Mb/d from the CIS. South and Central America added another 0.9 Mb/d to Europe in 2024.
Asia Is the Center of Gravity for Demand
The map reveals a clear trend: the world’s largest crude flows now move toward Asia. China alone imported 5.1 Mb/d from the Persian Gulf, 2.2 Mb/d from the CIS, and 1.0 Mb/d from Africa in 2024, making it the single biggest destination for internationally traded crude.
This graphic offers a closer look at where China gets its oil, as the country’s supplier mix has tilted sharply toward discounted Russian and Middle Eastern barrels.
India tells a similar story, having pulled 2.0 Mb/d from the Persian Gulf and 1.7 Mb/d from the CIS, a flow that has swelled as Russian crude redirected east. Japan & South Korea, with fewer domestic options, leaned almost entirely on the Gulf for their combined 4.2 Mb/d in 2024.
Oil Exports of Regions Broken Down: Gross vs. Net
North America stands out from every other major exporting region.
While it exported 9.2 Mb/d of crude in 2024, it also imported roughly 7 Mb/d. This reflects a highly integrated market in which U.S. and Canadian producers export large volumes of light crude while refineries continue importing heavier barrels better suited to existing refining systems.
The data table below shows each exporting region’s gross and net exports in 2024, along with implied imports:
| Gross Exports (Mb/d) | Net Exports (Mb/d) | Implied Imports (Mb/d) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persian Gulf | 16.4 | 15.7 | 0.7 |
| North America | 9.2 | 2.1 | 7.1 |
| CIS | 6.4 | 6.1 | 0.3 |
| Africa | 4.9 | 4.6 | 0.3 |
| Central & South America | 4.0 | 3.4 | 0.6 |
That gap between gross and net sets North America apart. Every other major exporting region sent out almost everything it shipped: the Persian Gulf moved 16.4 Mb/d gross with 15.7 Mb/d of it net, while the CIS, Africa, and Central & South America all posted net exports within a few hundred thousand barrels of their gross totals.
North America is the lone two-way hub, re-importing roughly 7 Mb/d even as it exports, primarily driven by the growth in U.S. oil exports.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about where the world’s crude oil comes from, check out this graphic, which shows global crude oil production by region on Voronoi.