Pakistan Secures First U.S. Crude Oil Shipment

Pakistan’s largest oil refiner, Cnergyico, will import 1 million barrels of U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil from Vitol, with the shipment departing Houston and scheduled to arrive in Karachi in the second half of October 2025. This marks Pakistan’s first-ever purchase of American crude and is a trial cargo under a new umbrella agreement that could lead to regular monthly imports if commercially viable. The deal emerged from months of negotiations following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of a 29% tariff on Pakistani imports, which encouraged Pakistan to diversify its oil sources. The broader agreement includes promises of reduced tariffs, increased U.S. investment, and expanded bilateral economic cooperation, though details on specific tariff changes remain undisclosed. Pakistan, traditionally reliant on Middle Eastern oil and a close ally of China, sees the move as a key step in diversifying its energy imports and strengthening ties with the U.S. Oil accounted for nearly $11.3 billion, or 20% of Pakistan’s total import bill for the year ending June 2025.