As of August 2025, the average annual price of Brent crude oil stood at 71.3 U.S. dollars per barrel. This is over nine U.S. dollars lower than the 2024 average. Brent is the world's leading price benchmark for Atlantic basin crude oils. Crude oil is one of the most closely observed commodity prices as it influences costs across all stages of the production process and consequently alters the price of consumer goods as well. What determines crude oil benchmarks? In the past decade, crude oil prices have been especially volatile. Their inherent inelasticity regarding short-term changes in demand and supply means that oil prices are erratic by nature. However, since the 2009 financial crisis, many commercial developments have greatly contributed to price volatility, such as economic growth by BRIC countries like China and India, and the advent of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in the U.S. The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are examples of geopolitical events dictating prices. Light crude oils - Brent and WTI Brent Crude is considered a classification of sweet light crude oil and acts as a benchmark price for oil around the world. It is considered a sweet light crude oil due to its low sulfur content and low density and may be easily refined into gasoline. This oil originates in the North Sea and comprises several different oil blends, including Brent Blend and Ekofisk crude. Often, this crude oil is refined in Northwest Europe. Another sweet light oil often referenced alongside UK Brent is West Texas Intermediate (WTI). WTI oil prices amounted to 76.55 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2024.

Brent fell to 62.16 USD/Bbl on October 14, 2025, down 1.88% from the previous day. Over the past month, Brent's price has fallen 7.83%, and is down 16.29% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Brent crude oil - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on October of 2025.

The 2025 annual OPEC basket price stood at ***** U.S. dollars per barrel as of August. This would be lower than the 2024 average, which amounted to ***** U.S. dollars. The abbreviation OPEC stands for Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and includes Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and the United Arab Emirates. The aim of the OPEC is to coordinate the oil policies of its member states. It was founded in 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq. The OPEC Reference Basket The OPEC crude oil price is defined by the price of the so-called OPEC (Reference) basket. This basket is an average of prices of the various petroleum blends that are produced by the OPEC members. Some of these oil blends are, for example: Saharan Blend from Algeria, Basra Light from Iraq, Arab Light from Saudi Arabia, BCF 17 from Venezuela, et cetera. By increasing and decreasing its oil production, OPEC tries to keep the price between a given maxima and minima. Benchmark crude oil The OPEC basket is one of the most important benchmarks for crude oil prices worldwide. Other significant benchmarks are UK Brent, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), and Dubai Crude (Fateh). Because there are many types and grades of oil, such benchmarks are indispensable for referencing them on the global oil market. The 2025 fall in prices was the result of weakened demand outlooks exacerbated by extensive U.S. trade tariffs.

Switzerland Brent Crude Oil Price data was reported at 75.710 USD/Barrel in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 82.790 USD/Barrel for Sep 2018. Switzerland Brent Crude Oil Price data is updated monthly, averaging 25.785 USD/Barrel from Jan 1970 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 586 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 139.390 USD/Barrel in Jun 2008 and a record low of 2.230 USD/Barrel in Dec 1970. Switzerland Brent Crude Oil Price data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Swiss National Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Switzerland – Table CH.P002: Fuel Prices.

Brent oil prices in , August, 2025 For that commodity indicator, we provide data from January 1960 to August 2025. The average value during that period was 34.61 USD per barrel with a minimum of 1.21 USD per barrel in January 1970 and a maximum of 133.87 USD per barrel in July 2008. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

Graph and download economic data for Spot Crude Oil Price: West Texas Intermediate (WTI) (WTISPLC) from Jan 1946 to Sep 2025 about WTI, crude, oil, price, and USA.

Saudi Arabia Oil Prices: Nominal: North Sea, Brent data was reported at 54.170 USD/Barrel in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 43.760 USD/Barrel for 2016. Saudi Arabia Oil Prices: Nominal: North Sea, Brent data is updated yearly, averaging 24.745 USD/Barrel from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 111.620 USD/Barrel in 2012 and a record low of 2.230 USD/Barrel in 1970. Saudi Arabia Oil Prices: Nominal: North Sea, Brent data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.P012: Energy Prices.

Dubai oil prices in , August, 2025 For that commodity indicator, we provide data from January 1960 to August 2025. The average value during that period was 33.14 USD per barrel with a minimum of 1.21 USD per barrel in January 1970 and a maximum of 131.22 USD per barrel in July 2008. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

Graph and download economic data for Global price of Brent Crude (POILBREUSDA) from 1990 to 2024 about crude, oil, World, and price.

Saudi Arabia Oil Prices: Retail: Arabian Light data was reported at 48.430 USD/Barrel in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 38.320 USD/Barrel for 2016. Saudi Arabia Oil Prices: Retail: Arabian Light data is updated yearly, averaging 36.982 USD/Barrel from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 93.060 USD/Barrel in 2012 and a record low of 9.066 USD/Barrel in 1970. Saudi Arabia Oil Prices: Retail: Arabian Light data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.P012: Energy Prices. Real Retail Oil prices have been calculated by using the Consumer Price Index in industrial countries.

After some fluctuation in the oil industry's early years, where prices were incredibly high for that time period due to low supply, the cost of oil in the U.S. remained below five U.S. dollars per barrel in the century between the 1870s and 1970s. Due to the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, the Arab OPEC states then placed an embargo on Israel's allies, particularly the United States, which resulted in domestic prices almost doubling within two years. Less than a decade later, due to the Iranian Revolution, domestic prices in the U.S. more than tripled between 1978 and 1981. Domestic prices in the U.S. were very subject to those within the OPEC bloc, as OPEC-produced oil was often much cheaper than U.S. oil even after duties and transport fees were applied. U.S. production then fell from the 1980s to the 2010s, and high production costs were then passed on to consumers. Prices peaked between 2008 and 2013, at around 95 dollars per barrel, before the developments in unconventional oil industries, such as shale oil refinement, fracking, and horizontal mining, have seen prices fluctuate in recent years

Saudi Arabia Energy Spot Price: Saudi Crude Oil: Arabian Light 34 API data was reported at 52.590 USD/Barrel in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 40.960 USD/Barrel for 2016. Saudi Arabia Energy Spot Price: Saudi Crude Oil: Arabian Light 34 API data is updated yearly, averaging 21.940 USD/Barrel from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 110.220 USD/Barrel in 2012 and a record low of 1.300 USD/Barrel in 1970. Saudi Arabia Energy Spot Price: Saudi Crude Oil: Arabian Light 34 API data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.P012: Energy Prices.

Over the last several decades, the price of WTI crude oil has been affected by notable events and crises taking place throughout the world. The inflation adjusted price of one barrel of crude oil peaked shortly before the global financial crisis in 2008 at 125.21 real U.S. dollars. By the first quarter of 2009, the crude oil price had plummeted to 42.89 real U.S. dollars per barrel. By comparison, the through price during the coronavirus pandemic was 24.65 real U.S. dollars.

Saudi Arabia Oil Prices: Retail: North Sea, Brent data was reported at 49.890 USD/Barrel in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 40.940 USD/Barrel for 2016. Saudi Arabia Oil Prices: Retail: North Sea, Brent data is updated yearly, averaging 39.923 USD/Barrel from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94.240 USD/Barrel in 2012 and a record low of 15.551 USD/Barrel in 1970. Saudi Arabia Oil Prices: Retail: North Sea, Brent data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.P012: Energy Prices. Real Retail Oil prices have been calculated by using the Consumer Price Index in industrial countries.

In 2020, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) set a limit to the sulfur content of marine fuels. As a consequence, the demand for high sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) is expected to drop dramatically in 2020, while marine gas oil (MGO) is projected to see a demand of **** million barrels daily in 2020 and to remain the dominant fuel in the years to come. IMO 2020 Although sea transportation is less environmentally damaging compared to air and land transportation, it emits considerable amounts of sulfur and nitrogen oxides in addition to other air pollutants from engines. In an effort to reduce such emissions, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), an agency of the United Nations in charge of developing guiding rules for the global shipping industry, introduced a new sulfur cap on January 1, 2020. This implies that ships in the world oceans will only be allowed to use fuels with a sulfur content of under *** percent. Some regions, such as the European Union countries, are subject to more stringent standards. The new standards allow for higher sulfur contents if scrubbers are installed. Vessel scrubbers are employed to remove nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and other air pollutants from exhaust gases generated by engines. As of 2019, roughly **** percent of total container ships globally were equipped with scrubbing systems. Due to the new sulfur cap, the penetration rate of scrubbing systems is expected to increase in the upcoming years. Transition to alternative fuels Being one of the most cost-effective transport methods for international trade, the volume of goods transported by sea freight has been steadily increasing over the past few decades. Tankers typically transport commodities such as crude oil, refined petroleum products, gas, and chemicals. Between 1970 and 2018, the quantity of tanker freight in international maritime trade more than *******, reaching about *** billion metric tons in 2018. However, the shipping industry is now under pressure to switch to cleaner fuels and equip their vessels with sulfur abatement systems or transition to alternative fuels, such as liquefied natural gas. The number of liquefied natural gas-propelled vessels worldwide is expected to reach *** by 2020, up from ** in 2015.