US Cemented as World's Top Oil Producer in 2025
The United States cemented its position as the world's top oil producer in 2025, continuing a trend that began in 2018. With a record high 13.6 million barrels per day (bpd), the US led Russia and Saudi Arabia by a wide margin.
One reason for the increase is higher drilling productivity and operational efficiency, which allows operators to extract more oil per well. Production growth was particularly strong in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, accounting for about 48% of total domestic production in 2025.
Global supplies outstripped demand, causing West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices to drop from an average of $77 per barrel in 2024 to $65 in 2025. US petroleum exports reached a record high in May, with 419.7 million barrels exported, up sharply from 408.3 million barrels in April.