China Surpasses Record Oil Production in 2025 with 4.6 Million Barrels Per Day

China's oil and gas production has reached a record high in 2025, according to recent data from the National Energy Administration (NEA). The country produced a total of 216 million tons of oil and gas for the year, equivalent to 4.6 million barrels per day. This surpasses the previous record set in 2015 and puts China fifth globally in oil production, behind the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Canada.

The NEA also reported a natural gas production increase of about 10 billion cubic meters, or 353.15 billion cubic feet, marking the ninth consecutive year of growth. This growth is attributed to China's 7-year plan enacted in 2019, which aimed to reverse the country's declining oil output.

Despite reaching record levels, imports also rose in 2025, with China importing 557.73 million tons of crude oil, averaging 11.55 million barrels per day, a 4.4% increase from 2024. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) notes that China's strategic oil inventory is the largest globally, leading the world and exceeding that of the U.S. by more than three times.