- Angola’s oil output slipped below 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in July 2025.
- This marked the first drop below 1 million bpd since March 2023.
Angola’s oil output decline has raised serious concerns after production fell below 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in July. This marks the first time output has dropped to such levels in more than a year. It is also the first decline since Angola officially left OPEC in January 2024, a move meant to free the country from restrictive quotas and boost production.
The government projected output of 1,073,542 bpd for July. However, the National Agency for Petroleum and Gas (ANPG) reported actual production at just 998,757 bpd. The gap highlights Angola’s ongoing struggles to stabilise its oil industry. Despite exiting OPEC to avoid quota limits, Angola has not achieved its promised growth.
The decision to leave OPEC stemmed from a dispute over quotas. In mid-2023, OPEC+ reduced Angola’s production cap after years of underperformance. Nigeria received similar treatment. Angola rejected the decision, left the group, and pledged to ramp up production. Yet, a year and a half later, output remains near pre-exit levels. This reality shows that the issue lies more in ageing fields and poor investment than in OPEC’s rules.
Angola’s oil production peaked at 2 million bpd in 2008. Since then, output has steadily declined. Offshore projects requiring higher development costs have failed to attract sustained international investment. As a result, oil companies have shifted focus elsewhere. Faced with stagnation in crude oil, Angola is now prioritising natural gas. The government hopes gas projects will monetise fossil resources and secure new revenue streams.
Angola’s struggle reflects a deeper challenge: leaving OPEC did not fix its structural problems. Without fresh investment, stronger policy reforms, and renewed exploration, oil output will continue to weaken despite ambitious targets.