Argentina’s oil output tops 900,000 barrels a day, overtaking Colombia
Argentina produced 902,920 barrels of oil a day in July 2026, 35% more than in January 2024, according to Libertad Digital. Growth led by Vaca Muerta has moved the country ahead of Colombia and strengthened its capacity to increase crude exports.
Oil production reaches a new high
Argentina’s oil production exceeded 900,000 barrels a day in July 2026, marking a new record and placing the country ahead of Colombia. Libertad Digital, citing the latest official production reports from both countries, put Argentine output at 902,920 barrels a day, compared with 727,920 barrels a day in Colombia.
The change reflects both rapid growth in Argentina and declining output in Colombia. Argentina produced 874,857 barrels a day in January 2026 and 669,600 barrels a day in January 2024, the first full month of Javier Milei’s presidency. Output therefore rose by 35% over that period. Colombia, by contrast, produced 777,500 barrels a day in January 2024 before falling to its July 2026 level.
At the beginning of 2024, Colombia still produced more oil than Argentina. By July 2026, Argentine production was 24% higher than Colombia’s, according to the publication. The reversal alters the relative position of two established South American crude producers and gives Argentina more room to supply foreign markets after meeting domestic requirements.
Vaca Muerta drives company growth
The expansion is centered on Vaca Muerta, the unconventional hydrocarbon formation in central-western Argentina near the Chilean border. Libertad Digital describes it as the world’s second-largest unconventional gas resource and fourth-largest unconventional oil resource. More intensive development of the formation has supported the national production increase.
Several operators recorded substantial gains between 2024 and 2026. Pluspetrol produced 2.54 million cubic metres of oil from January through July 2026, up from 1.04 million cubic metres in the same period of 2024. YPF increased its production by 1.15 million cubic metres between the two periods, while Vista Energy added 793,614 cubic metres. The publication identified these companies as the largest contributors to the absolute increase, although other operators also expanded output.
The figures indicate that the rise is spread across multiple producers rather than resting on a single company. For processors, pipeline operators and export terminals, continued growth will increase the importance of transport and handling capacity. The source does not provide figures for available pipeline capacity, investment requirements or the division between domestic use and exports.
Gas output and export potential rise
Natural gas production has advanced alongside oil. Argentina produced 158.1 million cubic metres of gas a day in July 2026, compared with 123.8 million cubic metres a day in January 2024. That represents an increase of 27.7%, giving the country a larger hydrocarbon supply base across both commodities.
Libertad Digital reports that Argentina is using current oil and gas prices to increase petroleum exports and argues that production could eventually exceed 1 million barrels a day. No timetable for reaching that threshold is given. For crude buyers and regional competitors, the immediate development is the additional Argentine supply already entering the market; for producers and investors, the next constraint will be whether infrastructure and commercial outlets can keep pace with Vaca Muerta’s production growth.