This article was published by the Canada Energy Regulator on June 11, 2025.
Canadian crude oil exports averaged 4.20 million barrels per day (MMb/d) in 2024, with 3.33 MMb/d (or 79 per cent of oil exports) consisting of heavy oil, and the remaining 0.87 MMb/d (or 21 per cent) of exports being light oil. This represents a 5.4 per cent increase in the total volume of exports from the previous year. As a result of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project starting up in May 2024, 75 per cent of the increase in Canadian exports were shipped by marine vessels and 70 per cent of the increase in exports were to non-U.S. international markets.
Figure 1: Crude Oil Exports by Type and Province
Text Alternative: This figure shows annualCanadian crude oil exports from 2020 to 2024 broken down by province and oil type. Exports from Alberta have risen each year, with heavy oil exports rising from 2.56 MMb/d in 2020 to 3.10 MMb/d in 2024 and light oil exports from 0.60 MMb/d to 0.71 MMb/d. Heavy oil exports from Saskatchewan have slightly fallen from 0.10 MMb/d in 2020 to 0.09 MMb/d in 2024, while light oil exports remained flat at 0.03 MMb/d. Manitoba exported 0.04 MMb/d of heavy oil in 2020, which fell to 0.03 MMb/d in 2024, while its light oil exports fell from 0.06 MMb/d to 0.05 MMb/d. Heavy oil exports from Newfoundland and Labrador fell from 0.13 MMb/d in 2020 to 0.10 MMb/d in 2024, while light oil exports fell from 0.14 MMb/d to 0.08 MMb/d. For the latest export and import volume data, including updates and revisions, please see the Commodity Statistics page. To see an animated version of this graph, click here.
Most of Canada’s crude oil is produced in Alberta, which exported 3.81 MMb/d of crude oil in 2024, 91 per cent of total Canadian oil exports. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and other regions also export smaller volumes of crude oil, although none of them exported more than 0.20 MMb/d in 2024.
The U.S. is the largest importer of Canadian oil, having imported 3.93 MMb/d in 2024 (93 per cent of Canada’s total exports). Most of Canada’s exports to the U.S. go to Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts (PADD) 2 where 2.47 MMb/d were exported in 2024, accounting for 63 per cent of the total to the U.S. PADDs 1, 3, 4, and 5 imported 0.14, 0.69, 0.26, and 0.38 MMb/d respectively. In total, exports to the U.S. increased by 0.05 MMb/d and exports to non-U.S. international markets increased by 0.23 MMb/d.
Canadian crude oil is exported internationally through pipelines, rail, and marine vessels. The majority of Canadian crude oil is transported by pipeline, which accounted for 89 per cent of exports in 2024, while marine accounted for 9 per cent and rail 2 per cent. Exports by pipeline increased by 2 per cent from 2023, while marine exports increased by 72 per cent due to the completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. In the same period, exports by rail fell 10 per cent.
Figure 2: Crude Oil Exports by Transport Mode
Text Alternative: This figure shows annual Canadian crude oil exports from the beginning of 2020 to 2024 by mode of transportation. Marine exports fell from 0.30 MMb/d in 2020 to 0.21 MMb/d in 2023, then rose to 0.36 MMb/d in 2024. Pipeline exports have risen each year since 2020, from 3.21 MMb/d in 2020 to 3.75 MMb/d in 2024. Rail exports have fallen each year since 2020 from 0.17 MMb/d in 2020 to 0.09 in 2024. For the latest export volume data, including updates and revisions, please see the CER – Crude Oil Export Summary page. To see an animated version of this graph, click here.
The average price of Canadian crude oil exports was US$65.3 per barrel in 2024, unchanged from 2023 and down from US$81.9 per barrel in 2022. The total value of crude oil exports was US$100.7 billion in 2024, an increase of 5.7 per cent from the previous year.
For more information on the crude oil trade in Canada, please visit the Crude Oil Export Summary.
Date modified: 2025-06-10
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