US Crude Oil Production Set to Break Record in 2026
The United States is on track to break its own record for crude oil production in 2026, according to the latest forecast from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
In its Short-Term Energy Outlook, the EIA predicts that U.S. crude oil production will average 13.8 million barrels per day (b/d) next year, surpassing the previous record of 13.7 million b/d set in 2025.
The growth is mainly driven by increased production in the Permian region in Texas and New Mexico, where production is expected to rise by 3% to an average of 6.8 million b/d in 2026. Higher crude oil prices have supported oil-directed drilling in the Permian region, leading to the increase in production.
The Federal Gulf of America has also seen a significant increase in production, with four new major projects coming online since last year contributing to the growth. These projects include the Shenandoah Floating Production Unit (FPU) and the Whale FPU, among others.