Splash 247: Argentina rises on the global tanker map as shale exports surge

July 28, 2025 Argentina is poised to become a far more prominent fixture on the global crude oil shipping landscape, with soaring shale output and major infrastructure investments unlocking new export opportunities and driving increased demand for mid- and large-size tankers. At the heart of this transformation is the country’s prolific Vaca Muerta shale formation, whose production hit 450,000 barrels per day last month and is on track to surpass 1m barrels per day by 2030, according to analysts at Poten & Partners. This production boom has already made Argentina a net crude exporter and is rapidly redrawing regional tanker routes.