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More than eight months after restrictions on exporting domestic crude oil were lifted, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that U.S. crude exports are on the rise and are heading to a variety of destinations. First, the surge in exports since restrictions were lifted:

And the destinations for those exports (other than Canada):

EIA:

In the first five months of 2016, U.S. crude oil exports averaged 501,000 barrels per day (b/d), 43,000 b/d (9%) more than the full-year 2015 average. … [A]fter the lifting of restrictions, the number and variety of destinations for U.S. crude oil exports has changed. So far in 2016, crude oil was exported to 16 different nations, six more than 2015 and double the number of destinations in 2014. … In March 2016, total crude oil exports to countries other than Canada exceeded those to Canada for the first time since April 2000, 259,000 b/d versus 249,000 b/d. In May 2016, when total U.S. crude oil exports reached 662,000 b/d; exports to countries other than Canada exceeded exports to Canada by 46,000 b/d.

While it may be too soon to estimate the long-term effects of exporting U.S. crude, both here at home and around the world, over the first two quarters of the year it doesn't appear that there have been significant adverse impacts on the U.S. economy or consumers, as was predicted by some opposed to lifting the restrictions. Instead, Americans have seen prices at the pump this year below those in 2015. EIA:

The U.S. average regular gasoline retail price dropped one cent from the previous week to $...