Pakistan to Receive First US Oil Shipment in October

Pakistan is set to receive its first-ever shipment of US crude oil, as Cnergyico Pk Limited, the country’s largest oil refiner, finalizes an import deal with global energy trader Vitol. According to Vice Chairman Usama Qureshi, Cnergyico will import 1 million barrels of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light crude, scheduled to depart from Houston and arrive in Karachi in the second half of October 2025.

The deal, struck under a term agreement with Vitol, comes in the wake of a landmark US-Pakistan trade agreement and is viewed as a test shipment. If successful, Cnergyico plans to import at least one cargo per month. The move aims to diversify Pakistan’s crude sourcing and reduce dependence on Middle Eastern suppliers, which currently dominate the country’s oil imports.

Qureshi stated that no refinery modifications would be needed, as the refining margin for US crude matches that of Gulf grades. The company operates Pakistan’s only offshore single-point mooring terminal and is planning to build a second terminal and upgrade its refinery over the next five to six years.

The deal follows encouragement from Pakistan’s finance and petroleum ministries after US tariff threats earlier this year. It also aligns with broader efforts to strengthen Pakistan–US economic ties.

Read more: Pakistan and US Close to Final Trade Deal