The U.S. is a big oil exporter. So why does it import most of the oil it consumes?

NPR | By Ayesha Rascoe,

Eric McDaniel

Published March 22, 2026 at 8:04 AM EDT

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to University of Texas engineering professor Hugh Daigle about why the U.S. imports most of the oil it consumes despite being one of the world's largest oil exporters.

Ayesha Rascoe

Ayesha Rascoe is the host of "Weekend Edition Sunday" and the Saturday episodes of "Up First." As host of the morning news magazine, she interviews news makers, entertainers, politicians and more about the stories that everyone is talking about or that everyone should be talking about.

See stories by Ayesha Rascoe

Eric McDaniel

Eric McDaniel edits the NPR Politics Podcast. He joined the program ahead of its 2019 relaunch as a daily podcast.

See stories by Eric McDaniel

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