The UK gets its oil from a mix of domestic North Sea production and imports mainly from the United States, Norway, and a group of OPEC countries , plus some European trading hubs like the Netherlands.

Big picture: Does the UK produce its own oil?

  • The UK still produces a significant amount of oil from the UK Continental Shelf in the North Sea and surrounding areas.
  • However, North Sea output has been declining for years, so the UK is now a net importer overall and tops up its needs with foreign crude and refined products.
  • The UK also exports some of its own crude (especially certain North Sea grades) and imports other types that better match its refinery setup, so oil flows in both directions.

Main countries the UK gets oil from

Recent government energy statistics and independent summaries show that UK oil imports are now concentrated in a few key suppliers:

  • United States – In 2024 the US was the single largest supplier of crude oil to the UK by volume, with around 16 million tonnes imported, a record level.
  • Norway – A long‑standing major supplier of crude and natural gas liquids; in 2024 Norway was the second‑largest source and accounted for about 31% of the UK’s imported crude.
  • OPEC countries (e.g. Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait) – After the UK banned Russian oil in December 2022, imports from OPEC states grew strongly and by 2024 made up about 20% of UK crude imports.
  • European hubs, especially the Netherlands – The Netherlands is the UK’s closest major refining and trading hub and is the largest single source of imported oil products (like petrol and diesel), providing roughly a fifth of these imports.

In simple terms: the UK’s crude barrels are now heavily weighted toward the US and Norway, while much of the petrol, diesel and other products come via the Netherlands and other trading hubs.

What about petrol, diesel and jet fuel?

The UK doesn’t just import crude; it also brings in large volumes of refined fuels:

  • Petrol and diesel:
    • Big inflows arrive from European refineries (notably in the Netherlands) and also from the US.
* The exact mix shifts with prices and refinery maintenance, but continental Europe is a major source.
  • Jet fuel (aviation):
    • Kuwait has become the primary external supplier of jet fuel to the UK, providing about 38% of imported jet fuel in 2024.
* India, the UAE and Saudi Arabia also each supplied over one million tonnes that year.

How has this changed recently?

  • No Russian oil: The UK introduced a ban on Russian oil imports in December 2022 and has reported zero Russian crude imports since then.
  • Shift toward US and OPEC: To replace Russian barrels, the UK increased imports from the US and from OPEC producers, with OPEC’s share of UK crude imports rising by more than a third from 2022 to 2023 and again by about 9% from 2023 to 2024.
  • Growing import bill: Official data show oil import values remaining high after the 2022 price spike, with imports of oil in the UK measured in the billions of pounds per month.

Quick FAQ style recap

  • Does the UK still get oil from the North Sea?
    Yes, but falling production means domestic supply no longer covers demand.
  • Where does most imported crude come from now?
    Mainly the US and Norway, with a sizeable and growing share from OPEC countries such as Nigeria, Libya, Algeria and Gulf states.
  • Where does the UK get petrol and diesel from?
    Largely from European hubs like the Netherlands, plus the US and Middle Eastern refineries.
  • Does the UK buy oil from Russia now?
    No; imports of Russian oil stopped after the December 2022 ban.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.