Petrobras (PETR3; PETR4) Production Soars 7.6% in December, Driven by Pre-Salt

Petrobras reported a strong rise in oil and natural gas production in December, with output climbing 7.6% month over month to 3.218 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed), driven largely by pre-salt fields. Oil production rose 7.2% to 2.459 million barrels per day, while natural gas output increased 8.8%, according to Brazil’s oil regulator ANP.

For full-year 2025, Brazil set a new production record, with total oil and gas output reaching 4.897 million boed, up 12.7% versus 2023. Petrobras, responsible for nearly 90% of national production, benefited from the pre-salt layer, which accounted for almost 80% of total output.

Despite the strong operational performance, Petrobras shares faced mixed assessments from financial institutions. Bradesco BBI downgraded the stock to neutral, citing limited upside after a sharp rally and weak fundamentals supporting global oil prices amid rising supply. BTG Pactual also maintained a neutral stance, warning that dividends may fall short of expectations due to higher capital expenditures and non-recurring cash outflows.

Goldman Sachs, however, reiterated a buy recommendation, highlighting attractive medium-term dividend yields and potential political catalysts tied to Brazil’s electoral cycle.

Petrobras shares declined during the session as Brent crude fell around 5% following signs of easing geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran, reinforcing concerns over global oil oversupply. The drop occurred despite Brazil announcing record oil production levels for 2025.

Beyond short-term market volatility, Petrobras drew attention for the scale of its proven reserves, estimated at 12.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Analysts note that the company continues to replace production with new discoveries, underscoring operational efficiency. While theoretical valuations suggest reserves alone could justify a much higher share price, investors continue to apply a discount reflecting oil price volatility and governance risks linked to Petrobras’s state-controlled status.