Guyana Crude Exports Set to Cross One Million Barrels Daily Threshold
Georgetown, Wednesday, 14 October 2026.
Guyana will surpass 1.06 million barrels per day in crude exports in December 2026, driven by its new Uaru grade, completing a historic rise just seven years after starting production.
Export Milestone and Uaru Grade Debut
Guyana’s crude oil exports are projected to exceed 1.06 million barrels per day in December 2026, marking the first time the nation surpasses the one million barrel threshold [1][2][3]. Preliminary loading schedules indicate a total of 33 million barrels will be shipped during the month, driven significantly by the introduction of the new Uaru crude grade [1][3]. The initial shipment of Uaru crude is scheduled for December 11–12, 2026, with total exports of this grade expected to reach four million barrels within the month [2][3]. This surge represents a critical expansion in non-OPEC supply, occurring just seven years after the country began commercial production [1][3]. The achievement underscores the rapid scaling of the Stabroek Block, where cumulative production surpassed one billion barrels in September 2026 [1][3].
Production Growth and Historical Context
The path to this milestone began with ExxonMobil’s discovery of significant offshore resources in 2015, leading to commercial production in December 2019 with an initial capacity of 120,000 barrels per day [1][3]. By November 2025, daily production had reached 900,000 barrels, setting the stage for the subsequent increase to over one million barrels per day in late 2026 [1][3]. This trajectory reflects a production growth rate of approximately 17.778 percent from late 2025 to late 2026 based on export capacity estimates [1][3]. Key infrastructure expansions included the Liza Unity FPSO in February 2022 and the ONE GUYANA FPSO at Yellowtail in August 2025, which added 250,000 barrels per day to the network [1][3]. These developments have solidified Guyana’s position as a major energy supplier in the Western Hemisphere [1][3].
Future Expansions and Economic Impact
Looking ahead, the $12.7 billion Uaru project, featuring the Errea Wittu FPSO, arrived off the coast in August 2026 with a capacity of 250,000 barrels per day [1][3]. Future developments include the Whiptail project scheduled for late 2027 and the Hammerhead project targeting 2029, which will add 250,000 and 150,000 barrels per day respectively [1][3]. An eighth development, Longtail, is targeted for 2030 with a focus on natural gas and condensate, though export destinations for these resources remain unknown [alert! ‘destination details pending government review’] [1][3]. Collectively, these eight projects could raise installed capacity to approximately 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030 [1][3]. Economically, the International Monetary Fund reported in October 2026 that Guyana’s economy grew by more than 19 percent in 2025, with the Natural Resource Fund accumulating approximately $3.3 billion [1][3].