China's domestic oil and gas exploration reached historic milestones in 2025, driven by technological innovation, upstream institutional reforms, and an accelerated green low-carbon transition, according to a report released by the National Energy Administration.
The China Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Report (2026) shows that domestic crude oil production hit a record 216 million metric tons last year, while natural gas output maintained a robust growth streak, expanding by over 10 billion cubic meters for the ninth consecutive year.
Combined, China's total oil and gas production equivalent climbed to a new high of 420 million metric tons, significantly boosting national energy self-sufficiency and security.
On the global front, the report highlights that worldwide newly added recoverable oil and gas reserves reached 1.32 billion tons of oil equivalent in 2025, marking a 5.6 percent year-on-year increase. Newly discovered conventional and unconventional recoverable reserves accounted for 1.29 billion tons and 30 million tons, respectively.
