NEWS OIL
Top 10 Oil-producing Countries (Updated 2022)
Global oil production has continued to rise over the years. Here’s a look at the top 10 oil-producing countries.
In recent years, the global oil market has been impacted significantly by COVID-19 disruptions, price wars between oil-producing nations and now the Russia/Ukraine war.
The output control deal made between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and 11 of the world’s top oil producers expired in 2020. When production rose dramatically in April of that year after Russia’s decision not to approve further cuts proposed by Saudi Arabia, the de facto OPEC leader responded by offering its product at a discount and producing more oil. In an oversupplied market suffering from a lack of demand, oil prices turned negative, shocking market participants. Finally, with some pressure from the US, Russia and OPEC finally came to an agreement to cut production by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) — the single largest output decrease in history.
1. United States Production: 18,875,000 bpd Number one on this list of the top 10 oil-producing countries is the US. Its output increased by 266,000 bpd from its 2020 level to reach 18,875,000 bpd last year. The US has been described as a swing producer because its production fluctuates alongside market prices. Texas leads the way as the biggest oil-producing state in the nation, with output nearly four times as high as the second biggest oil-producing state, New Mexico. In addition to being a major oil producer, the US is a big consumer of oil. Last year, the US consumed a total of 7.22 billion barrels of petroleum products — that’s an average of about 19.78 million bpd.
2. Saudi Arabia Production: 10,835,000 bpd Saudi Arabia’s oil output came in at 10,835,000 bpd in 2021. The country possesses 17 percent of the world’s proven petroleum reserves and is the largest petroleum exporter. Its oil and gas sector accounts for around 50 percent of its gross domestic product and about 85 percent of its export earnings. As mentioned, Saudi Arabia played a key role in OPEC’s decision to curb oil output back in 2020. The country decided to reduce production by 3.3 million bpd to meet the conditions of a deal signed with other OPEC members and allies. In 2022, the country's US relations have soured to the point that the Arab kingdom seems unwilling to increase production in an effort to bring down rising gasoline prices.
3. Russia Production: 10,778,000 bpd Prior to production cuts in 2020, Russian oil output had spent a number of years rising; it hit 10,778,000 bpd last year. Most of Russia’s reserves are located in West Siberia, between the Ural Mountains and the Central Siberian Plateau, as well as in the Urals-Volga region, extending into the Caspian Sea. As the third largest oil-producing nation, Russia accounts for 10 percent of global output. In response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, Canada, the US, the UK and Australia have banned imports of Russian oil, representing about 13 percent of Russia’s exports. In March 2022, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that Russia could be forced to cut 30 percent of its crude oil production, resulting in a serious global oil supply crisis. “The implications of a potential loss of Russian oil exports to global markets cannot be understated,” the IEA stated.
4. Canada Production: 5,558,000 bpd Next on this list of the top 10 oil-producing countries is Canada. The country’s annual oil production rose to 5,558,000 bpd in 2021, up from 2020’s output levels of 5,235,000 bpd. Nearly all of Canada’s proven oil reserves are located in Alberta, and according to the province’s government, 97 percent of oil reserves there are in the form of oil sands. Energy exports to the US account for the vast majority of Canada’s total energy exports. However, because of economic and political considerations, Canada is developing ways to diversify its trading partners, especially by expanding ties with emerging markets in Asia. Canada has been embroiled in a national debate over pipelines. In 2018, the federal government purchased the Kinder Morgan(NYSE:KMI) Trans Mountain pipeline for C$4.5 billion to ensure Canadian crude reaches market ports. At the time, an expansion was estimated to cost another C$7.4 billion, after which the government would sell the project back to the private sector. In February 2020, a new cost estimate for the project sent the C$7.4 billion figure to C$12.6 billion; that figure was adjusted again in February 2022, nearly doubling to C$21.4 billion.
5. China Production: 4,993,000 bpd China’s annual oil output was 4,993,000 bpd in 2021. The nation is the world’s second largest consumer of oil and moved from being the second largest net importer of oil to the largest in 2014. China is the world’s most populous country and has a rapidly growing economy, factors that have driven its high overall energy demand. In fact, the Asian country is the top consumer of oil, with 55 percent of its imports coming from OPEC member countries. According to Reuters, during the first few months of 2022, China’s crude oil refineries have been cutting production due to COVID-19 lockdowns as the virus continues to challenge the government’s zero-COVID strategy.
6. Iraq Production: 4,149,000 bpd In 2017, despite increasing its output, Iraq got bumped from its position as the sixth largest oil-producing country. Output in 2018 helped the Middle Eastern nation regain its sixth spot position. The country has seen its oil production decrease significantly in recent years, falling from 4,788,000 bpd in 2019 to 4,149,000 bpd in 2021. It holds the world’s fifth largest proven oil reserves at 145 billion barrels; that represents 8.4 percent of global reserves.
7. United Arab Emirates Production: 3,786,000 bpd The United Arab Emirates is an OPEC member, and has ranked among the world's top 10 oil-producing countries for decades. In 2021, it saw a small year-on-year increase in production, with oil output rising to 3,786,000 bpd. The country holds the world’s eighth largest proven oil reserves at 98 billion barrels, with most of those reserves located in Abu Dhabi. The United Arab Emirates accounts for 5.6 percent of global total reserves.
8. Brazil Production: 3,689,000 bpd Brazil’s oil production fell slightly from 3,769,000 bpd in 2020 to 3,689,000 bpd in 2021. According to the EIA, total primary energy consumption in Brazil has nearly doubled in the past decade because of sustained economic growth. The largest share of Brazil’s total energy consumption is oil and other liquid fuels, followed by hydroelectricity and natural gas. In April 2022, Brazil was reportedly in discussions with the US to increase its oil production in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
9. Iran Production: 3,458,000 bpd Iran’s oil output increased dramatically last year, rising from 2,990,000 bpd in 2020 to 3,458,000 bpd in 2021. According to the EIA, Iran holds the world’s third largest proven oil reserves, as well as the world’s second largest natural gas reserves. Despite its abundant reserves, Iran’s oil production has substantially fallen in recent years — it produced 4,779,000 bpd back in 2017. US sanctions and regional disputes have all weighed on Iran’s energy production sector. China recently signed a 25 year trade and security agreement with Iran, and has called on the US to drop its sanctions.
10. Kuwait Production: 2,717,000 bpd Last on this list of the top 10 oil-producing countries is Kuwait, whose output decreased in 2021 for the third time since 2018. In 2016, production reached 3,072,000 bpd, then dropped to 3,025,000 bpd in 2017. In 2018, the country made a slight recovery, producing 3,059,000 bpd; production fell again in 2019 to 3,017,000 bpd. Kuwait’s oil and gas sector accounts for about 60 percent of the country’s GDP, and an even larger share of its export revenues at around 95 percent.