Global oil production surged to a new all-time high in April, driven by increased output of non-crude liquids, according to preliminary data from Energy Intelligence. Total liquids supply, including crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), biofuels, and refinery processing gains, reached 103.5 million barrels per day (b/d), surpassing the previous record set in November 2023 by nearly 200,000 b/d.
Despite the milestone, crude oil production itself fell during the month. April’s crude output totaled 77.3 million b/d, a decline of 120,000 b/d from March and still 2.5 million b/d below the record peak set in November 2018. The dip underscores the increasing role of alternative liquid fuels in meeting global energy demand.
Natural gas liquids production edged slightly lower to 15.9 million b/d, down 60,000 b/d from the prior month. However, biofuels showed a notable uptick, with output jumping by 250,000 b/d to reach 3.26 million b/d.
The figures highlight a shift in the composition of global oil supply, with non-crude liquids becoming a more significant component as countries diversify their energy sources and as global demand patterns evolve.
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