China Hits Record Oil and Gas Production in 2025

The National Energy Administration reported that China's total oil and gas output reached a record 420 million tonnes of oil equivalent in 2025. This milestone follows the completion of a government-led seven-year action plan for domestic exploration and development spanning 2019 to 2025. Crude oil production hit an all-time high of 216 million tonnes, while shale oil output exceeded 8.5 million tonnes, more than ten times the 2018 volume.

Natural gas output grew by over 10 billion cubic meters for the ninth consecutive year. These gains were driven by breakthroughs in unconventional gas and investments from state-owned giants including China National Petroleum Corp, China Petroleum and Chemical Corp, and China National Offshore Oil Corp. To further secure supplies, the government utilized discounted Russian and Iranian crude to build a strategic petroleum reserve estimated between 1 billion and 1.4 billion barrels.

While officials highlight a reduction in import dependence to 71.9% in 2024, analysts note that energy demand continues to outpace local production, limiting full self-reliance. For 2026, the sector plans to launch new strategic exploration campaigns and increase investment to maintain crude oil output above 200 million tonnes and continue growing natural gas production.