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United States to Release 172 Million Barrels From Strategic Petroleum Reserve

United States to Release 172 Million Barrels From Strategic Petroleum Reserve

The United States and 32 other IEA member countries agreed to release 400 million barrels, with the U.S. contributing 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve over roughly 120 days.

Fact Check
The claim is supported by multiple independent and high-authority news sources (Investing.com, CNN's Kaitlan Collins) reporting on the same specific figure (172 million barrels) and the same primary source (U.S. Department of Energy) on March 11, 2026. The context of the release aligns with other reports of regional conflict (Iran) impacting energy markets during this period.
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Summary

The United States and 32 other member countries of the International Energy Agency agreed to release a combined 400 million barrels of crude oil and refined products to help lower energy prices. Under the plan, Trump authorized the Energy Department to begin releasing 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve starting next week, with deliveries expected to take place over about 120 days.

Terms & Concepts
  • Strategic Petroleum Reserve: A U.S. government emergency oil stockpile used to respond to supply disruptions and support energy market stability.
  • IEA: The International Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organization whose member countries coordinate energy policy and emergency response measures.