Pakistan says imported 6 million barrels of crude oil from US this fiscal year

ISLAMABAD: Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said on Thursday that Pakistan imported six million barrels of crude oil from the US for the first time during this fiscal year, as it eyes enhancing energy cooperation with Washington. 

Pakistan’s largest oil refiner, Cnergyico Pk, executed a commercial transaction to import six million barrels of US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude in January this year, valued at around $430 million. 

Cnergyico Pk said in January that it imported three million barrels of crude under the deal, with the remaining scheduled to arrive at its offshore Single Point Mooring facility in February and March. A petroleum ministry official said Cnergyico PK imported the six million barrels “somewhere around Oct. 25 to May 2026.”

Malik met US Assistant Secretary of State S. Paul Kapoor in Islamabad, the petroleum ministry said, with both sides exploring further opportunities for cooperation in the petroleum and energy sectors. 

“For the first time, Pakistan has imported 6 million barrels of crude oil from the United States,” Malik was quoted as saying by his ministry. 

Malik briefed the US delegation, which included US Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Natalie Baker, on Pakistan’s energy sector reforms.

He said Pakistan intended to rely more on local resources, improve efficiency and create a favorable environment for foreign investment through the reforms. 

The Pakistani minister cited cooperation opportunities between Washington and Islamabad in port infrastructure, storage facilities and refinery upgrades. 

“There are also prospects for joint work in oil and gas exploration and the minerals sector,” Malik added. 

Kapoor said the recent warmth in relations between both nations could be transformed into a “strong” economic partnership, the petroleum ministry said. 

“Pakistan and the United States have always been important to each other,” Kapoor was quoted as saying. 

Pakistan has been seeking to expand bilateral trade with the US, its largest export market, amid efforts to rebalance trade flows and avoid punitive tariffs under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Pakistan has forged cordial ties with the US in recent weeks after positioning itself as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran amid their ongoing conflict.