Crude oil imports from the United States to Britain in January overtook supplies from other countries for the first time since such shipments began in 2015, data from energy analysts at Kpler showed. The United States lifted an oil export ban in 2015. British imports of US oil reached 264,000 barrels per day (bpd) last month, compared with Norway's 181,000 bpd in second place and total imports of 738,000 bpd. Other top exporters to Britain include Algeria, Russia, Nigeria and Canada.

"For UK refiners the economics were right to increase their imports from the US in January while cutting imports from Norway," Jonathan Leitch, research director for refining and oil product markets at Woodmac, said. "This may not continue in February and the UK may buy more crude from other regular suppliers such as Nigeria, Algeria and Russia, as well as the US and Norway."

Copyright Reuters, 2019