Who Controls the World’s Diesel Exports?

Where Gas Is Most Expensive in America

Where you fill up can make a significant difference in what you pay at the pump.

This map shows average regular gasoline prices across the U.S. using September 2026 data from AAA Fuel Tracker. Prices are per gallon and rounded to the nearest cent.

Where Gas Prices Run Highest and Lowest

The broader divide is regional. The highest fuel prices are concentrated in the West, while much of the South sits below the $4.48 national average.

The table below ranks prices from highest to lowest in the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Part of the difference reflects the journey fuel takes to reach a station. Longer distances from refineries, ports, and distribution terminals can mean higher transportation costs, which can push up retail prices.

States such as Louisiana and Texas also benefit from extensive oil and refining infrastructure, helping keep distribution costs relatively low.

Why California Costs So Much More

California’s premium goes beyond taxes. The Golden State requires a special gasoline blend designed to reduce air pollution, which costs more to produce. State environmental programs also add compliance costs for fuel suppliers, alongside state and local taxes.

The state’s specialized fuel comes from a relatively limited pool of suppliers. California is geographically separated from major U.S. refining centers along the Gulf Coast, and only some refineries elsewhere can produce gasoline that meets its requirements. Bringing in additional supply is therefore more complicated than simply sourcing cheaper fuel from another state.

This becomes especially important when a refinery shuts down for maintenance or experiences an unexpected outage. Replacement supplies can take time to arrive, leaving the market more vulnerable to price spikes. The same factors that keep California expensive under normal conditions can make disruptions more painful for drivers.

No Relief This Fall

Gas prices usually ease after the summer driving season. Demand falls as travel slows, while cooler weather allows refiners to use less expensive gasoline components that would evaporate too easily in summer heat. The seasonal change in fuel requirements can help reduce costs even without a decline in global oil prices.

This September, however, that usual pattern has been disrupted. Expensive crude oil and continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed up prices at the pump. The national average of $4.48 per gallon is the highest on record for late September.

Local advantages offer only partial protection from those pressures. Gasoline prices generally track crude oil costs, so even states with lower distribution costs and taxes remain exposed to oil-market disruptions.

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To compare these prices with major global events, check out Oil Prices and Geopolitical Events on Voronoi.

Which Countries Export the Most Oil?

Oil is one of the world’s most heavily traded commodities, and the countries that ship it abroad can influence fuel costs far beyond their borders.

This graphic ranks the world’s largest oil exporters in 2025 using data from the OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin 2026.

Figures combine crude oil, including lease condensate, with petroleum products and measure gross exports without subtracting imports. As a result, totals can include re-exports and oil in transit.

How the U.S. Became the World’s Top Oil Exporter

The United States ranks first at 10.7 million barrels per day, ahead of Saudi Arabia at 7.9 million. Together, the two countries account for nearly a quarter of global oil exports.

The table below ranks the countries exporting the most oil by daily volume and global share:

The U.S. position at the top owes much to the shale boom. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing unlocked more oil from tight rock formations, while the lifting of most crude oil export restrictions in 2015 opened up overseas markets.

Russia ranks third at 6.6 million barrels per day, bringing the top three countries’ combined share to 33.0%. Canada follows at 4.1 million, ahead of the United Arab Emirates at 3.9 million.

Because these figures include petroleum products as well as crude oil, major refining and trading hubs can also rank highly. This helps explain the presence of countries such as the Netherlands and Singapore among the world’s larger exporters.

The Middle East Supplies 29% of Global Oil Exports

At the regional level, the picture shifts. The Middle East exports 22.4 million barrels per day, accounting for 29.2% of the global total.

Europe follows at 16.1 million barrels per day, or 21.0%, narrowly ahead of North America’s 15.7 million, or 20.5%. Asia-Pacific supplies another 10.9 million barrels per day, representing 14.2%.

Here is how global oil exports break down by region:

The Middle East’s vast oil reserves help explain its lead. Ancient seas deposited organic-rich sediments, while reservoir rocks and sealing layers allowed oil to accumulate underground.

Saudi Arabia supplies more than a third of the region’s exports. Its relatively low-cost fields, extensive pipeline network, and investments in overseas refineries help turn those reserves into reliable access to customers. Iraq and Kuwait add 3.5 million and 2.4 million barrels per day, respectively.

Together, the Middle East and North America supply 49.7% of global exports. On the buying side, Asia-Pacific receives 50.1% of global oil imports, highlighting the scale of oil trade between distant regions.

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If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The U.S. Exports 35% More Oil Than It Imports on Voronoi.