Norway’s liquids production recovered sharply in August after a weaker July. Preliminary data showed combined output of crude oil, natural gas liquids and condensate averaged 2.073 million barrels per day, up by 97,000 bpd, or about 4.9%, from July’s 1.976 million bpd.
According to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, crude oil production alone reached 1.882 million bpd. That was 98,000 bpd, or 5.5%, above July’s 1.784 million bpd and also 79,000 bpd, or 4.4%, higher than the Directorate’s August forecast of 1.803 million bpd.
Even so, output has not yet returned to year-on-year growth. Total liquids production in August was 4% lower than in the same month of 2025, while crude production was down by 74,000 bpd, or 3.8%, from the 1.956 million bpd recorded in August 2025.
The figures suggest part of July’s decline was likely temporary. Production on the Norwegian continental shelf often fluctuates because of planned maintenance and operational stoppages at individual fields.
Natural gas results were less encouraging. August gas production averaged 342 million standard cubic meters per day, missing the Norwegian Offshore Directorate’s forecast of 348.6 million by 6.6 million cubic meters. That was also down by 9.7 million cubic meters per day from July’s 351.7 million.
Still, gas production remained above the level seen a year earlier, exceeding the 333.8 million standard cubic meters recorded in August 2025 by 8.2 million cubic meters.
The trend matters for Europe, where Norway is the largest supplier of natural gas and pipeline deliveries remain central to the region’s supply balance ahead of the winter heating season.
August’s rebound reversed much of July’s weakness, but the year-on-year decline shows Norway has yet to return to sustained growth. The main question for coming months is whether output will keep recovering as summer maintenance ends, or slip again as mature offshore fields continue to decline.
