Overview
- Official data show total oil production hit 882,200 barrels per day in January 2026, a new high that consolidates gains beyond the late-1990s peak.
- Shale output reached 603,500 barrels per day, or 68.4% of the national total, with year-on-year growth near 35% versus 16.5% for overall output.
- Month over month, total production rose 0.4% while non-conventional output increased 1.7%, underscoring shale as the chief engine of growth.
- Fuels and energy exports totaled $781 million in January versus $163 million in imports, yielding a $618 million surplus after a $7.815 billion sector surplus in 2025.
- Officials hailed the results as a win for clear rules and private investment, while industry points to drilling costs about 40% above U.S. levels and service bottlenecks that must be addressed to hit a projected 1.5 million barrels per day by 2030.