Cnooc set to lead China’s oil output growth
The state-controlled firm is expected to contribute most of the country’s new oil production this year
China’s crude oil output inched up to 198.98mn t in 2021, an increase of 2.4pc from 2020 and a 4pc gain from 2019, according to official statistics. This year’s output is expected to top 200mn t, state-controlled Cnooc’s energy and economics research institute forecast in a recent report. Domestic offshore production will expand by 5.4pc this year, to 57.6mn t and account for a record 80pc of China’s total incremental crude output for 2022, according to the report. Nearly all of this will be contributed by Cnooc, as it is China’s offshore-focused oil and gas developer, while bigger peers CNPC and Sinopec concentrate on onshore production, although they also have some offshore assets. Cnooc i
Also in this section
9 April 2026
The April 2026 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!
9 April 2026
Offshore operators are working through an FID backlog as the rig market consolidates, helped by improving project economics and a renewed security drive
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term






