The cargo was purchased from commodity trader Mercuria, the sources said. While BSR typically relies on domestic crude feedstock, it occasionally sources internationally to supplement supply and take advantage of price shifts.
A BSR board member declined to comment when contacted by Reuters, and the company has not yet issued a formal statement on the deal.
Trade and Market Dynamics
Vietnam’s decision to buy U.S. oil comes against the backdrop of bilateral trade negotiations with Washington, under which countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand agreed to increase purchases of U.S. commodities, including crude oil, as a way of narrowing trade imbalances and easing tariff pressures.
At the same time, market conditions have made U.S. WTI more attractive in Asia. Cargoes arriving in November are currently priced more competitively than Middle Eastern grades, which have risen in recent weeks.
Import Patterns
Data from energy analytics firm Kpler show that Vietnam last imported U.S. crude in December 2024. The Southeast Asian nation traditionally sources much of its crude supply from Kuwait, Brunei, and Libya, with U.S. shipments representing an opportunistic supplement rather than a regular flow.
The latest purchase signals Vietnam’s readiness to diversify supply when price dynamics and trade obligations align—highlighting the increasingly flexible approach Asian refiners are adopting in a shifting global oil market.