Oil, gas, and renewables across the Atlantic corridor

The global energy transition is reshaping trade flows in oil, gas, and energy products, and the Americas—together with Africa—are at the center of this shift. The United States remains the world’s largest producer of crude oil and natural gas, but it also imports significant volumes of heavy crude, refined products, and increasingly, low-carbon energy components from Latin America and Africa. For US buyers, diversifying supply chains away from geopolitical risk means looking south and east.

For suppliers in Latin America and Africa, the US market offers stable demand, transparent pricing, and long-term off-take agreements—but only if they can navigate complex regulatory, logistical, and commercial requirements. Coppermont bridges that gap, helping both sides capture value in oil, gas, and energy trade.

Latin America and Africa: Energy Supply Landscape

Latin America holds some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves—Venezuela alone has over 300 billion barrels, though political instability limits production. Brazil’s pre-salt offshore fields have made it a top-10 global producer, and its crude output exceeded 3.4 million barrels per day in 2023. Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina also contribute substantial volumes of crude, natural gas, and refined products.

Africa is equally critical: Nigeria and Angola are among the top African crude exporters to the US, while Mozambique and Tanzania are emerging as major liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers. The US imported roughly 1.6 million barrels per day of crude oil from Latin America in 2023, with Brazil and Colombia accounting for over 60% of that volume. For natural gas, US exports to Latin America are significant—Mexico alone received 6.3 billion cubic feet per day of US natural gas via pipeline in 2023—but the reverse flow is growing as LNG from African and Caribbean projects enters the US Gulf Coast.

Beyond hydrocarbons, the energy vertical now includes renewables and energy transition products. Latin America is a powerhouse for solar panels, wind turbine components, and biofuels. Brazil is the second-largest producer of ethanol in the world, exporting over 2 billion liters to the US in 2023 for blending.

Chile and Argentina supply lithium for batteries, while Mexico and Colombia export solar-grade silicon and electrical transformers. Africa is rich in critical minerals: the Democratic Republic of Congo produces over 70% of the world’s cobalt, and South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe supply manganese, copper, and graphite—all essential for US energy storage and electric vehicle supply chains. The US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has created new incentives for sourcing these materials from free-trade partners, opening doors for Latin American and African suppliers who can meet environmental and labor standards.

Exporting Oil, Gas & Energy Products to the US

Exporting oil, gas, and energy products to the US requires understanding a fragmented regulatory environment that varies by product type. Crude oil imports face no tariff (duty-free under most trade agreements) but must comply with EPA fuel standards and shipping rules under the Jones Act. Refined products like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel must meet ASTM specifications and often require pre-shipment testing by third-party inspectors.

Natural gas imports, including LNG, are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and must comply with the Natural Gas Act. For renewable energy components, the landscape is more complex: solar panels face anti-dumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) on imports from certain Asian countries, but Latin American and African suppliers may qualify for exemptions if they use non-Chinese inputs. Biofuels must meet Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requirements, with EPA registration and RIN (Renewable Identification Number) trading compliance.

Coppermont helps suppliers pre-clear these hurdles by mapping product-specific tariff schedules, testing protocols, and documentation requirements before shipments leave origin ports.

Importing Oil, Gas & Energy Equipment from the US

Importing US-origin oil, gas, and energy equipment into Latin America and Africa presents its own set of opportunities and challenges. US exports of drilling equipment, pipeline infrastructure, turbines, and solar panels to these regions exceed $15 billion annually. Latin American countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia have large oil and gas sectors that rely on US-made pumps, valves, compressors, and control systems.

In Africa, Nigeria and Angola import US drilling rigs and subsea equipment for offshore operations, while South Africa and Kenya import solar panels and wind turbines. However, local content requirements in countries like Brazil (ANP regulations) and Nigeria (Nigerian Content Development Act) mandate that a percentage of equipment and services be sourced locally, which can complicate procurement. Tariffs on imported machinery range from 5% to 25% depending on the country and product category.

Coppermont advises US exporters on navigating local content laws in its markets, customs valuation, and logistics—including shipping to remote inland or offshore locations.

Regulatory and Compliance Overview

Regulatory and compliance considerations are paramount in the energy vertical due to safety, environmental, and geopolitical sensitivities. For crude oil and petroleum products, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires manifests, bills of lading, and certificates of origin under free trade agreements (e.g., USMCA for Mexico, or the US-Colombia FTA). For natural gas and LNG, the US Department of Energy (DOE) authorizes exports to non-FTA countries, but imports are less restricted.

For renewable energy equipment, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates coolant fluids in solar thermal systems, and the Department of Energy (DOE) sets efficiency standards for transformers and inverters. In Latin America and Africa, compliance with local standards—such as NOM in Mexico, INMETRO in Brazil, or SON in Nigeria—is often mandatory before equipment can be installed. Additionally, sanctions regimes (e.g., OFAC sanctions on Venezuela and Iran) require careful due diligence on counterparties and cargo origins.

Coppermont provides compliance audits, sanctions screening, and documentation review to ensure every transaction meets both US and local legal requirements.

Countries and Trade Corridors

Key trade corridors in this vertical are well-defined but evolving. The US Gulf Coast—Houston, New Orleans, and Corpus Christi—serves as the primary entry point for crude oil, refined products, and LNG from Latin America and Africa. Brazilian crude, Colombian heavy crude, and Nigerian light sweet crude routinely discharge at these ports.

For natural gas, the US imports small volumes of LNG from Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria, while pipeline imports from Canada dominate. For renewables, the US West Coast ports (Los Angeles, Long Beach) handle lithium, cobalt, and solar components from South America and Africa. Mexico is a critical corridor for cross-border electricity trade, with over 1.5 gigawatts of capacity flowing south from the US to Mexican industrial centers.

African exporters increasingly use the Suez Canal and Cape of Good Hope routes to reach US East Coast ports (New York, Savannah, Charleston) for energy minerals and equipment. Air freight is reserved for high-value items like aerospace-grade aluminum or specialized sensors used in oil and gas exploration.

How Coppermont Advisory Works for This Vertical

How Coppermont advisory works for the Oil Gas & Energy vertical: We begin with a trade diagnostic—analyzing a supplier’s product portfolio, target US buyer segments, and regulatory readiness. For US buyers, we conduct supplier audits, verify certifications (e.g., API Q1 for oilfield equipment, or UL for electrical components), and negotiate contract terms including Incoterms, payment guarantees, and quality assurance. Our team has deep experience in energy commodity trading, logistics coordination for hazardous materials, and customs brokerage for energy products.

We maintain relationships with US refineries, power utilities, renewable energy developers, and trading houses actively seeking Latin American and African supply. For suppliers, we provide market intelligence reports, buyer introductions, and compliance roadmaps tailored to the US market. For US buyers, we offer sourcing strategies that reduce cost and risk by leveraging free trade agreements and duty preference programs like GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) for eligible African countries.

Get Started with Coppermont

Ready to expand your energy trade between the US, Latin America, and Africa? Coppermont is your partner for navigating tariffs, regulations, and commercial relationships. Contact us today for a consultation.