Everyone knew it was coming… but nobody thought it would happen quite so soon.
In December, more than six million barrels of crude oil quietly flowed into China, marking the day the Middle Kingdom became the world’s largest oil importer.
That’s right, folks. We’ve passed the torch to the Far East.
The crossover took place only a few months ago, and already both countries are heading in opposite directions.
But China’s oil troubles are just beginning…
Passing the Torch
U.S. oil imports are decreasing for a number of reasons: Some point to increased vehicle efficiency, while others say it’s nothing more than signs of a weak economy. And then there’s the group that says it’s due to low U.S. demand.
I’ll agree with the first two, but I’m unconvinced U.S. demand is plummeting.
The fact remains the United States is far and away the largest oil consumer on the planet.
As you can see, our demand has been relatively flat for decades:
On the other hand, China’s demand is spiking at an alarming rate:
And this isn’t even the most disturbing part of China’s oil future…
You see, U.S. oil imports are pretty stable — that is, most of those barrels come from relatively stable ares. According to the EIA’s stats, our top sources of oil imports are Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela. The latter two may not inspire much confidence, considering Mexico’s Cantarell field has peaked and Venezuela’s supplying us with poorer quality oil, but they’re both happy to have the U.S. as their largest customer.
China isn’t so lucky. Almost half of China’s oil imports are shipped from the Middle East. China’s crude imports from Iran rose by 81% in February, a red flag if we’ve ever seen one.
And China faces a snowballing demand from here on out…
Here in the U.S., we’ve managed to curtail our debilitating oil addition.
We’ve had to — our domestic oil production started spiraling downward in 1970 with no solution in sight.
So, what’s the secret to our success?
Invest in China’s Misery
China won’t be able to alleviate its oil woes by simply finding more domestic crude or upping imports.
No, the real prize for the Chinese is technology.
As a regular reader of these pages, you’ve heard of the billions of dollars pouring out of Asia and into unconventional oil and gas that’s become so prominent in recent years. And it’s become obvious that the Chinese are scrambling to shore up future energy supplies. Quite frankly, that’s the only option available to them — at least, until they’re able to economically tap their own massive shale deposits.
The only way we’ll continue lowering U.S. oil imports is by increasing production. And that’s no small feat.
Personally, I’m not satisfied with us producing seven million barrels per day. I want to see our domestic output top eight or even nine million barrels a day.
Is this a moon shot? Perhaps. But it seems entirely possible — probable, even — when we see nearly every oil and gas company operating on U.S. soil taking advantage of pad drilling.
And that’s where our edge with technology comes in…
The now-famous shale plays in the U.S. didn’t spring up overnight. It might feel that way, considering the years it took for the mainstream media to pick up on this story, but companies have actually spent decades improving drilling and completion technologies.
With each new well, they’re perfecting a technique to extract oil and natural gas from North American shale formations. In some areas like the Bakken Shale, they’ve already mapped out the sweet spots… now it’s just a matter of driving down costs.
Of course, China will continue to cling to the hope that someone is willing to share crucial drilling technology with them at some point.
Let them hope…
Until next time,
Keith Kohl
Check us out on YouTube!A true insider in the technology and energy markets, Keith’s research has helped everyday investors capitalize from the rapid adoption of new technology trends and energy transitions. Keith connects with hundreds of thousands of readers as the Managing Editor of Energy & Capital, as well as the investment director of Angel Publishing’s Energy Investor and Technology and Opportunity.
For nearly two decades, Keith has been providing in-depth coverage of the hottest investment trends before they go mainstream — from the shale oil and gas boom in the United States to the red-hot EV revolution currently underway. Keith and his readers have banked hundreds of winning trades on the 5G rollout and on key advancements in robotics and AI technology.
Keith’s keen trading acumen and investment research also extend all the way into the complex biotech sector, where he and his readers take advantage of the newest and most groundbreaking medical therapies being developed by nearly 1,000 biotech companies. His network includes hundreds of experts, from M.D.s and Ph.D.s to lab scientists grinding out the latest medical technology and treatments. You can join his vast investment community and target the most profitable biotech stocks in Keith’s Topline Trader advisory newsletter.
