The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) presents its new monthly Oil and Gas report, a publication aimed at tracking the evolution of production and foreign trade in the sector across Latin America and the Caribbean.
According to the analysis for January 2026, oil production reached 361 million barrels, representing an 11% increase compared to the same month of the previous year, with Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela accounting for 70% of total crude production, while natural gas production rose 27%, reaching 28 billion cubic meters.
In natural gas, Argentina positioned itself as the regional leader with a 21% share, driven mainly by the development of Vaca Muerta. It is followed by Trinidad and Tobago with 20%, cementing its position as one of the region’s leading producers and exporters of natural gas and LNG, and Brazil with 13%. This context is marked by the expansion of shale gas and offshore operations.
A second group includes Peru, with a 11% share, Venezuela with 10%, and Bolivia with 9%, countries that continue to play a significant role in regional natural gas supply. Colombia contributed 5% of regional production, while Ecuador accounted for approximately 1% of the total.
The report also highlights growing energy interconnection within the region. During January, 56% of oil imports and 59% of natural gas purchases came from intraregional markets, indicating increasing interdependence and a significant strengthening of trade flows within the region.
In this context, OLACDE, in collaboration with CAF, is moving forward with the Mercosur + Chile Regional Gas Integration Project, an initiative aimed at accelerating regulatory harmonization, maximizing the use of existing infrastructure, and strengthening energy security through an integrated regional natural gas market.
The project includes technical, regulatory, financial, and infrastructure studies aimed at expanding regional interconnection, facilitating new supply corridors, and reinforcing South America’s energy resilience in the face of international market volatility.
With this new monthly publication, OLACDE will strengthen technical and statistical monitoring of the region’s hydrocarbon sector, providing strategic information for governments, companies, multilateral organizations, and energy market stakeholders.
