US crude oil production rose 2.5% year-to-year in 2011 to an average 5.6 million b/d as petroleum product demand fell 1.2% to 18.9 million b/d, the American Petroleum Institute reported.

Crude and petroleum product imports dropped 5.6% from their 2010 average to 11.1 million b/d, while product exports grew 25.5% to an average 3 million b/d, API said in its yearend statistics.

The figures suggested growing US exploration and production strength. Crude production during December, which averaged 5.5 million b/d, was 100,000 b/d below the full-year average, but still at an 8-year peak. Natural gas liquids production, which climbed 4% from 2010’s average to 2.2 million b/d in 2011, also increased year-to-year during December and the fourth quarter, API said.

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