For the first time, the top export of the United States is fuel, such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, reports Chris Kahn of Associated Press. A decade ago, fuel wasn’t even among the top 25 exports. And for the last five years, America’s top export was aircraft. Experts say the trend helps explain why U.S. motorists are paying more for gasoline. The more fuel that’s sent overseas, the less of a supply cushion there is at home. Gasoline supplies are being exported to the highest bidder, says Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service. “It’s a world market,” he says. American refiners are eager to export, because US consumption of gasoline has fallen since 2007, as economically strapped motorists cut back. Still, the U.S. is nowhere close to energy independence and is the world’s largest importer of crude oil. Most scientists agree that burning fossil fuels such as gas and oil is the main driver of global warming, which in turn, causes ever worsening climate change. Until the US shifts its dependence to cleaner exports, it threatens the safety of all humanity.
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In a first, gas and other fuels are top US export. For the first time, the top export of the United States, the world’s biggest gas guzzler, is — wait for it — fuel. Measured in dollars, the nation is on pace this year to ship more gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel than any other single export, according to U.S. Census data going back to 1990. Associated Press
