U.S. crude oil exports are expected to hit a new high in April, with empty oil tankers rushing to the United States

According to the Financial Times, due to Asian customers scrambling to find alternative Middle Eastern oil supplies disrupted by the Iran war, U.S. crude oil exports are projected to set a record in April. Oil research firm Kpler estimates that this month’s exports will jump nearly one-third from March’s daily 3.9 million barrels to 5.2 million barrels per day. Demand from Asian customers will increase by 82%, reaching 2.5 million barrels per day. Data shows that currently, 68 empty tankers are en route to the U.S., up from 24 ships one week before the outbreak of war on February 28, and the average last year was 27 ships. The surge in exports highlights the growing importance of the U.S. as a “swing supplier” globally, but competition from Asia could also push up domestic prices in the U.S., deepening concerns about Trump’s…