Maybe the oil that we're importing was already contracted and paid for; hopefully, at a much lower rate than the oil that we are currently selling. A profit off buying low and selling high would be nice ...
How about this: Buy the imported oil when it is cheap & then sell it back later to the same people when it is higher & they need it? Is that a possibility?
Never forget that America imports crude oil and exports gasoline, fuel oil, plastics, lubricants, waxes, etc.