(adds OPEC oil shipments)

WASHINGTON, March 28 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil imports in January increased by 177,000 barrels per day, or 1.8 percent, from the month before to 10 million bpd, with shipments from OPEC the highest since 1977, the federal Energy Information Administration said on Friday.

Canada maintained its position as the biggest foreign oil supplier to the United States, with exports up 160,000 bpd to an average 1.944 million bpd, the most ever for January, the EIA said.

Saudi Arabia was again in second place with exports of 1.479 million bpd, down 196,000 bpd from the month before, the smallest volume since October.

Mexico moved up one spot to third place, even though exports fell 36,000 bpd to 1.198 million bpd, the lowest level since February 2001.

Nigeria also moved up one spot to the fourth-biggest oil supplier, but shipments declined 47,000 bpd to 1.163 million bpd, the smallest volume since September.

Venezuela fell to fifth place, with oil exports declining 111,000 bpd to 1.135 million, the lowest level since June.

U.S. oil imports from OPEC members in January averaged 5.838 million bpd, the most since July 1977.

The following is EIA data on shipments from major U.S. oil suppliers and total monthly crude imports:

U.S. CRUDE OIL IMPORTS*

(thousand barrels per day) Country Jan-08 Dec-07 YTD-2008 Jan-07 YTD-2007 CANADA 1,944 1,784 1,944 1,856 1,856 SAUDI ARABIA 1,479 1,675 1,479 1,559 1,559 MEXICO 1,198 1,234 1,198 1,435 1,435 NIGERIA 1,163 1,210 1,163 1,106 1,106 VENEZUELA 1,135 1,246 1,135 955 955 ANGOLA 566 439 566 553 553 IRAQ 543 378 543 531 531 ALGERIA 366 348 366 548 548 ECUADOR 247 195 247 269 269 KUWAIT 239 158 239 172 172 COLOMBIA 171 113 171 137 137 BRAZIL 169 171 169 204 204 CHAD 117 92 117 70 70 CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE) 91 31 91 53 53 UNITED KINGDOM 85 93 85 61 61

U.S. OIL AND REFINED PETROLEUM IMPORTS*

(thousand barrels per day) Country Jan-08 Dec-07 YTD-2008 Jan-07 YTD-2007 CANADA 2,586 2,360 2,586 2,470 2,470 SAUDI ARABIA 1,503 1,686 1,503 1,563 1,563 VENEZUELA 1,290 1,387 1,290 1,195 1,195 MEXICO 1,307 1,322 1,307 1,566 1,566 NIGERIA 1,191 1,271 1,191 1,136 1,136 ALGERIA 636 600 636 778 778 ANGOLA 578 439 578 574 574 VIRGIN ISLANDS 380 387 380 425 425 IRAQ 543 378 543 531 531 RUSSIA 392 306 392 347 347 UNITED KINGDOM 213 238 213 194 194 ECUADOR 260 201 260 272 272 BRAZIL 225 178 225 250 250 KUWAIT 239 158 239 172 172 NETHERLANDS 92 157 92 102 102

Note: The data in the tables above exclude oil imports into the U.S. territories. (Reporting by Tom Doggett; Editing by David Gregorio)

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