Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in United States
United States: Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) was 6.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Fuel imports in United States, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fuel imports in United States is 6.2%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 17.4% on the previous year and down 28.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fuel imports in United States peaked at 32.8% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 2020.
That places United States 165th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in United States, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 11.3% | — |
| 1963 | 11.1% | -1.7% |
| 1964 | 10.7% | -3.0% |
| 1965 | 10.4% | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 8.9% | -14.9% |
| 1967 | 8.4% | -5.2% |
| 1968 | 7.6% | -9.0% |
| 1969 | 7.8% | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 7.7% | -0.7% |
| 1971 | 8.2% | +5.9% |
| 1972 | 8.6% | +5.9% |
| 1973 | 11.8% | +36.2% |
| 1974 | 25.1% | +113.6% |
| 1975 | 27.2% | +8.4% |
| 1976 | 27.9% | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 29.9% | +7.3% |
| 1978 | 24.5% | -18.0% |
| 1979 | 29.3% | +19.4% |
| 1980 | 32.8% | +12.1% |
| 1981 | 31.1% | -5.4% |
| 1982 | 26.6% | -14.2% |
| 1983 | 22.4% | -16.0% |
| 1984 | 18.7% | -16.7% |
| 1985 | 15.5% | -16.8% |
| 1986 | 10.4% | -32.8% |
| 1987 | 11.1% | +6.1% |
| 1989 | 11.4% | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 13.3% | +16.7% |
| 1991 | 11.4% | -13.8% |
| 1992 | 10.6% | -7.4% |
| 1993 | 9.8% | -7.3% |
| 1994 | 8.7% | -11.2% |
| 1995 | 8.2% | -6.3% |
| 1996 | 9.4% | +15.3% |
| 1997 | 9.2% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 6.6% | -28.4% |
| 1999 | 7.5% | +13.7% |
| 2000 | 11.1% | +48.5% |
| 2001 | 10.7% | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 10.0% | -6.0% |
| 2003 | 12.4% | +23.0% |
| 2004 | 14.2% | +15.2% |
| 2005 | 17.4% | +22.0% |
| 2006 | 18.0% | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 18.5% | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 23.2% | +25.6% |
| 2009 | 17.4% | -24.8% |
| 2010 | 18.5% | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 20.4% | +10.5% |
| 2012 | 18.5% | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 16.7% | -9.7% |
| 2014 | 14.8% | -11.2% |
| 2015 | 8.7% | -41.6% |
| 2016 | 7.3% | -16.3% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | +16.8% |
| 2018 | 9.2% | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 8.2% | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | -33.9% |
| 2021 | 7.6% | +41.2% |
| 2022 | 9.6% | +25.4% |
| 2023 | 8.4% | -12.1% |
| 2024 | 7.5% | -11.1% |
| 2025 | 6.2% | -17.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 6.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.0%, 69% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +113.6% | 11.8% | 25.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.5% | 7.6% | 11.3% | 8 |
| 1970s | 20.0% | 7.7% | 29.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.0% | 10.4% | 32.8% | 9 |
| 1990s | 9.5% | 6.6% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.3% | 10.0% | 23.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.1% | 7.3% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.4% | 5.4% | 9.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More energy & mining data for United States
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.4% (2025)
- Fuel exports 17.3% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 3.0% (2025)
- Gas production 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fuel imports in United States?
- Fuel imports in United States was 6.2% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest fuel imports recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 32.8% in 1980.
- What is the lowest fuel imports recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 2020.
- How does United States rank for fuel imports?
- United States ranks 165th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fuel imports rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fuels comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) section 3 (mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.