Almost half (48.3 percent) of all U.S. crude oil imports in 2009 were supplied by the twelve countries comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).  Six of these members are from the Persian Gulf: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.  18.4% of the oil imports come from these six countries.  Here is the breakdown:

• 10.9%, Saudi Arabia
• 5.0%, Iraq
• 2.0%, Kuwait
• 0.1%, Qatar
• 0.4%, UEA

The other six OPEC countries (Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Libya, Nigeria, and Venezuela) supplied 29.9% of all U.S. imported crude oil in 2009.

The data for this week’s snapshot came from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIAcollects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.  To gather more information, go to their website at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_epc0_im0_mbblpd_a.htm