Customs Dept. Slips On Oil

Customs Dept. Slips On Oil

Another report casting doubt as to whether there really is an oil shortage in the United States has been released -- this one by the U.S. Customs Bureau.

The Customs Bureau, apparently without the knowledge of energy chief William Simon, has, for decades, been keeping detailed records of every oil tanker shipment that arrives in the United States from abroad.

According to Custom's records, there was actually an increase in oil imports in November compared to October, despite the reported Arab oil cutback which allegedly began in November. Customs officials state that more than 210 million barrels of crude and refined oil reached the United States from abroad in November -- a figure that was 19 million barrels higher than the November import figures released by the oil industry.

The Customs Department, which by law must keep tabs on all imports into the United States, said it will have December's final statistics available in a couple of weeks.

ZODIAC