US Oil Production and Exports
The United States is the world's largest crude oil producer. Output averaged a record 13.66 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2025, up from 9.43 million b/d in 2015, and the EIA expects about 13.9 million b/d in 2026 and 14.3 million b/d in 2027. The country has exported around 4 million b/d of crude since 2023 and has been a net petroleum exporter every year since 2020.
Source: EIA petroleum supply data (series MCRFPUS2, MCREXUS2, WCSSTUS1), read 13 October 2026. mb/d = million barrels per day.
US oil production by year
| Year | Crude production | Crude exports | Net petroleum exports* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13.66 | 3.96 | 2.85 |
| 2024 | 13.27 | 4.09 | 2.27 |
| 2023 | 12.97 | 4.08 | 1.71 |
| 2022 | 12.03 | 3.58 | 1.19 |
| 2021 | 11.32 | 2.96 | 0.06 |
| 2020 | 11.35 | 3.21 | 0.64 |
| 2019 | 12.34 | 2.98 | − |
| 2018 | 10.97 | 2.05 | − |
| 2017 | 9.37 | 1.16 | − |
| 2016 | 8.86 | 0.59 | − |
| 2015 | 9.43 | 0.47 | − |
Source: EIA annual series MCRFPUS2 (production), MCREXUS2 (crude exports) and MTTNTUS2 (net exports of crude oil and petroleum products). *A dash means the US was a net importer that year. The EIA says 2020 was the first year of net petroleum exports since at least 1949.
Two dips stand out. In 2016 low prices after the 2014–2016 price crash cut shale drilling, and in 2020 the pandemic did the same. Each time, output recovered to a new record within about three years.
Where US oil comes from
Most of the growth since 2010 has come from shale (tight oil), produced by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. According to the EIA:
- Permian Basin (west Texas and south-east New Mexico): about 6.6 million b/d in 2025, close to half of US output. The EIA's September 2026 forecast puts it at 6.8 million b/d in 2026. Its light sweet crude is exported as WTI Midland, which has been part of the Dated Brent basket since 2023.
- Federal offshore Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico): about 1.9 million b/d in 2025. First-half 2026 output was up 0.2 million b/d year on year as new fields such as Shenandoah, Ballymore, Whale and Salamanca started.
- Alaska: about 0.4 million b/d in 2025.
- The rest comes mainly from the Bakken in North Dakota, the Eagle Ford in south Texas and smaller onshore basins.
Shale wells decline quickly, so output depends on constant drilling. That makes US supply more responsive to price than most other countries' supply, usually with a lag of 6–12 months. The Baker Hughes count stood at 462 oil rigs in the week to 9 October 2026, the highest since spring 2025. In the Dallas Fed's March 2026 energy survey, producers put the average break-even price for new wells at $69/bbl in the Midland Basin and $63/bbl in the Delaware Basin.
US production in 2026
Before the Iran war, the outlook was flat. In January 2026 the EIA expected WTI to average $52/bbl in 2026 and US output to slip in 2027. The conflict that began on 28 February 2026 and disrupted the Strait of Hormuz changed that. WTI averaged $84/bbl from January to August 2026, against $65/bbl in 2025.
Monthly output reached 13.98 million b/d in April 2026 and was 13.95 million b/d in July, the latest month reported. The EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook of 6 October 2026 forecasts 13.9 million b/d for 2026 and 14.3 million b/d for 2027, which would be new annual records. Follow the live WTI crude oil price to see the price signal producers are reacting to.
Exports since the 2015 ban was lifted
Congress ended the 40-year ban on most crude exports in December 2015. Exports rose from 0.47 million b/d in 2015 to a record 4.09 million b/d in 2024, mostly from Gulf Coast ports in Texas and Louisiana to Europe and Asia. US light sweet crude now competes directly with North Sea and West African grades, which is one reason the Brent-WTI spread mostly reflects transport costs from the Gulf Coast.
The US still imports heavier crude that suits its complex refineries. Imports were 6.17 million b/d in 2025, and Canada supplied 3.91 million b/d of that, about 63%. See the Canada oil production page for how that trade works.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve in 2026
On 11 March 2026 the Department of Energy announced a release of 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. It was the US share of a 400-million-barrel coordinated release by the 32 IEA member countries. The DOE structured it as an exchange: companies must return the barrels plus a premium, about 200 million barrels in total, within roughly a year.
SPR stocks were 397.9 million barrels in late April 2026 and 283.0 million barrels in the week to 2 October 2026, according to EIA weekly data. Authorised capacity is 714 million barrels.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Crude production forecast | 13.9 mb/d | 2026, EIA STEO (Oct 2026) |
| Crude production forecast | 14.3 mb/d | 2027, EIA STEO (Oct 2026) |
| Crude imports | 6.17 mb/d | 2025, EIA |
| Imports from Canada | 3.91 mb/d | 2025, EIA |
| SPR release announced | 172 m bbl | 11 Mar 2026, DOE |
| Oil rigs | 462 | Week to 9 Oct 2026, Baker Hughes |
How the US affects global oil prices
US output growth added more supply than any other country over the past decade, and it limits how long high prices can last. When prices rise, shale producers add rigs and output follows within months. That happened in 2026. US crude is also outside OPEC+, so its volumes are set by companies and markets, not quotas. Weekly EIA inventory data and Cushing stocks drive short-term WTI moves. For the bigger picture, see what moves oil prices and the ranking of oil producing countries.
US oil production FAQ
How much oil does the US produce per day?
The United States produced a record 13.66 million barrels per day of crude oil in 2025, according to the EIA. Monthly output was 13.95 million b/d in July 2026. The EIA's October 2026 outlook expects 13.9 million b/d for 2026 as a whole and 14.3 million b/d in 2027.
Is the US the largest oil producer in the world?
Yes. The US has been the world's largest crude oil producer since 2018. In 2025 it produced about 13.7 million b/d of crude, against about 9.3 million b/d for Saudi Arabia, according to EIA estimates. Including natural gas liquids, US liquids output is above 20 million b/d.
Does the US still import oil?
Yes. The US imported 6.17 million b/d of crude in 2025 while exporting 3.96 million b/d. Many US refineries are built for heavy sour crude, which shale fields do not produce, so they buy it from Canada and elsewhere. Canada supplied about 63% of US crude imports in 2025.
When did the US start exporting crude oil again?
Congress lifted the ban on most US crude exports in December 2015. Exports grew from 0.47 million b/d in 2015 to a record 4.09 million b/d in 2024, according to the EIA. Most cargoes leave Gulf Coast ports for Europe and Asia.
How much oil is in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?
The SPR held 283.0 million barrels in the week to 2 October 2026, according to EIA weekly data, out of an authorised capacity of 714 million barrels. Stocks fell after the 172-million-barrel exchange release announced in March 2026 in response to the Iran war.
Related pages
Canada
Canada's oil industry: oil sands output, WCS pricing, pipelines including Trans Mountain, and its position as the largest US crude supplier.
WTI Crude Oil Price
Current WTI crude oil price live in USD per barrel, with a real-time chart, NYMEX contract facts, Cushing delivery and key US drivers.
Brent vs WTI
Brent vs WTI compared: live prices, why Brent trades at a premium, quality and delivery differences, and how the spread has moved since 2010.
What Moves Oil Prices
What moves oil prices: OPEC+, inventories, demand, spare capacity, geopolitics, the dollar, rates, speculation and the futures curve.