Why Argentina’s Shale Boom Matters for Global Energy Markets

Argentina’s epic unconventional oil boom is going from strength to strength. At the end of 2024, South America’s third-largest economy emerged as the continent’s fourth-largest oil producer. After production faltered at the end of 2025, output bounced back to near record levels at a crucial time for world energy markets. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is impacting global oil supply, triggering a price shock that could push vulnerable economies into recession. The 8.6-million-acre Vaca Muerta shale will make Argentina a global…