With the exeption of the United States, Canada and Russia, oil has not been around in quantity near world centres of population. Production: in Western Europe is insignificant. Japan is without production as are Australia, Southern Africa, India; Brazil, Chile, New Zealand and China._x000D_
The United States is, however, a large importer of crude oil. The very fact that oil is produced generally away from centres of population means that it has to be carried by sea to the area in which it is required._x000D_
There is, therefore, a constant flow of oil around the world in very definite channels.