Import shares of the main crude oil suppliers to France in 2015
According to the French Ministry of Ecology, almost 20 percent of all the crude oil imported to France in 2015 originated from Saudi Arabia. Further 14 percent came from Kazakhstan and around 8 percent from Russia, attesting to France’s dependence on oil drilled from the Asian continent. The volume of crude oil imported by France from Saudi Arabia is supposed to increase in the coming years, mainly due to the sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States. In 2018, the volume of crude oil exports from Iran decreased sharply compared to previous years.
France became less dependent on Saudi oil after the first Oil Shock
After the 1973 oil crisis, France tried to reduce its oil imports by more than half and to diversify the sources of energy consumed: in 1973, France imported the equivalent of around 135 megatons of oil. 42 years later, this figure corresponded to approximately 56.7 megatons . France seemed to have diversified its pool of crude oil suppliers, especially in the Middle East. Between 2013 and 2017, the volume of oil imported from the Middle East went from 11,9 million tons to 14 million tons. Moreover, in 2015, the volume of crude oil imported specifically from Nigeria reached 6.6 million tons. Nigeria was then the third main supplier of crude oil in France.
The U.S. sanctions and oil consumption in France
If the sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran are enforced, France would have to revert the post-Oil Shock trend. Even though France is trying to use other energy sources, global decisions concerning oil have a direct impact on the country. In 2014, France’s energy independence rate reached 55.8 percent, compared to 50.8 percent in 2002.
France became less dependent on Saudi oil after the first Oil Shock
After the 1973 oil crisis, France tried to reduce its oil imports by more than half and to diversify the sources of energy consumed: in 1973, France imported the equivalent of around 135 megatons of oil. 42 years later, this figure corresponded to approximately 56.7 megatons . France seemed to have diversified its pool of crude oil suppliers, especially in the Middle East. Between 2013 and 2017, the volume of oil imported from the Middle East went from 11,9 million tons to 14 million tons. Moreover, in 2015, the volume of crude oil imported specifically from Nigeria reached 6.6 million tons. Nigeria was then the third main supplier of crude oil in France.
The U.S. sanctions and oil consumption in France
If the sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran are enforced, France would have to revert the post-Oil Shock trend. Even though France is trying to use other energy sources, global decisions concerning oil have a direct impact on the country. In 2014, France’s energy independence rate reached 55.8 percent, compared to 50.8 percent in 2002.
