for international crude oil and natural gas liquids in 2016 was $38.61 per barrel, compared with $46.52 in 2015 and $90.42 in 2014. The average natural gas realization was $4.02 per thousand cubic feet in 2016, compared with $4.53 and $5.78 in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

International net oil-equivalent production was 1.90 million barrels per day in 2016, essentially unchanged from 2015 and 2014. Between 2016 and 2015, production increases from major capital projects, base business, and shale and tight properties were largely offset by normal field declines, the Partitioned Zone shut-in, the impact of civil unrest in Nigeria and planned turnaround activity. Between 2015 and 2014, production increases from entitlement effects in several locations and project ramp-ups in Bangladesh and other areas were offset by the Partitioned Zone shut-in, normal field declines and the effect of asset sales.

The net liquids component of international oil-equivalent production was 1.22 million barrels per day in 2016, down 2 percent from 2015 and 3 percent from 2014. International net natural gas production of 4.1 billion cubic feet per day in 2016 was up 4 percent from 2015 and 5 percent from 2014.

Refer to the “Selected Operating Data” table, on page FS-12, for a three-year comparison of international production volumes.

U.S. Downstream

U.S. downstream operations earned $1.31 billion in 2016, compared with $3.18 billion in 2015. The decrease was due to lower margins on refined product sales of $1.45 billion, lower earnings from the 50 percent-owned Chevron Phillips Chemicals Company LLC of $400 million and asset impairments of $110 million. Partially offsetting this decrease were lower operating expenses of $80 million and higher gains on asset sales of $110 million.

U.S. downstream operations earned $3.18 billion in 2015, compared with $2.64 billion in 2014. The increase in earnings was due to higher margins on refined product sales of $1.51 billion, partially offset by the absence of 2014 asset sale gains of $960 million.

Refined product sales of 1.21 million barrels per day in 2016 were down 1 percent, primarily due to lower gas oil sales. Sales volumes of refined products were 1.23 million barrels per day in 2015, an increase of 1 percent from 2014, mainly reflecting higher sales of jet fuel. U.S. branded gasoline sales of 532,000 barrels per day in 2016 increased 2 percent from 2015 and 3 percent from 2014.

Refer to the “Selected Operating Data” table on page FS-12 for a three-year comparison of sales volumes of gasoline and other refined products and refinery input volumes.

International Downstream

International downstream earned $2.13 billion in 2016, compared with $4.42 billion in 2015. The decrease in earnings was primarily due to the absence of a $1.6 billion gain from the sale of the company's interest in Caltex Australia Limited in 2015, partially offset by 2016 asset sales gains of $420 million. Lower margins on refined product sales of $1.14 billion also contributed to the decline. Partially offsetting these decreases were lower operating expenses of $240 million. Foreign currency effects decreased earnings by $25 million in 2016,