US crude exports hit all-time high SPR releases — NRG-IA

United States Floods Global Market with Crude — Exports Hit Historic High The U.S. recorded an all-time high in crude oil exports in May 2026, driven by ongoing Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) releases and a sharp decline in domestic commercial inventories. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), commercial crude stockpiles decreased by 3.3 million barrels during the week ending May 22, bringing total commercial inventories down to 441.7 million barrels. This structural shift cements Washington’s role as the primary swing supplier in a highly volatile global energy market. The massive surge in outbound shipments comes at a time of profound reconfiguration of maritime trade routes. Oil terminals along the U.S. Gulf Coast are operating at maximum capacity, loading supertankers primarily bound for Europe and Asia, where refiners are actively seeking reliable alternatives to Middle Eastern crude. This physical supply injection has successfully countered fears of a…