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 63.05 USD/Bbl on December 2, 2025, down 0.19% from the previous day. Over the past month, Brent's price has fallen 2.84%, and is down 14.36% 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 December of 2025.

In August 2025, the average price of one barrel of Brent crude oil was 67.87 U.S. dollars. This was a decrease from the previous month and 12 U.S. dollars below July 2024 prices. Brent terminology and most common uses Brent is the world's leading price benchmark for Atlantic basin crude oils. It is used to price two thirds of the internationally traded crude oil supplies and is also the most significant crude oil benchmark for Europe. Brent crude originates in the North Sea and includes oils from Brent and Forties Oil Field in the United Kingdom, and from the Oseborg and Ekofisk oil fields, both oil reserves in Norway. Other names for Brent are Brent Blend, London Brent and Brent petroleum. The name Brent comes from the Brent oil field, located north-east of the Shetland Islands, and thus part of the United Kingdom. Because the Brent oil field already passed its production peak, today the benchmark Brent includes oil from the other three major oil fields. Brent, next to West Texas Intermediate (WTI), is one of the lightest crude oils. With a low content of sulfur, it is ranged among the so-called sweet crude oils. Most of the Brent crude oil is refined into gasoline and middle distillates in Northwest Europe. Benchmark oil prices Other crucial benchmarks for crude oil prices are the already mentioned U.S.- WTI and Dubai Crude (Fateh). They are indispensable for referencing the many types and grades of oil on the global market. In the past 20 years, the annual price for one barrel of Brent crude oil saw a net increase. For example, the average price per barrel stood at 80.53 U.S. dollars in 2024.

Brent crude oil is projected to have an average annual spot price of 67.22 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2025, according to a forecast from May 2025. This would mean a decrease of more than 13 U.S. dollars compared to the previous year and also reflect a reduced forecast WTI crude oil price. Lower economic activity, an increase in OPEC+ production output, and uncertainty over trade tariffs all impacted price forecasting. All about Brent Also known as Brent Blend, London Brent, and Brent petroleum, Brent Crude is a crude oil benchmark named after the exploration site in the North Sea's Brent oilfield. It is a sweet light crude oil but slightly heavier than West Texas Intermediate. In this context, sweet refers to a low sulfur content and light refers to a relatively low density when compared to other crude oil benchmarks. Price development in the 2020s Oil prices are volatile, impacted by consumer demand and discoveries of new oilfields, new extraction methods such as fracking, and production caps routinely placed by OPEC on its member states. The price for Brent crude oil stood at an average of just 42 U.S. dollars in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a sudden demand drop. Two years later, sanctions on Russian energy imports had pushed up prices to a new decade-high, above 100 U.S. dollars per barrel.

Crude Oil fell to 59.17 USD/Bbl on December 2, 2025, down 0.25% from the previous day. Over the past month, Crude Oil's price has fallen 3.08%, and is down 15.40% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Crude Oil - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on December of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Crude Oil Prices: Brent - Europe (DCOILBRENTEU) from 1987-05-20 to 2025-11-03 about crude, oil, Europe, commodities, and price.

United Kingdom BOE Forecast: Brent Crude Oil Price data was reported at 71.000 USD/Barrel in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 74.000 USD/Barrel for 2020. United Kingdom BOE Forecast: Brent Crude Oil Price data is updated yearly, averaging 72.500 USD/Barrel from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2021, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 81.000 USD/Barrel in 2018 and a record low of 43.000 USD/Barrel in 2015. United Kingdom BOE Forecast: Brent Crude Oil Price data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of England. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.P009: Crude Oil and Gas Prices: Forecast.

On October 27, 2025, the Brent crude oil price stood at 65.14 U.S. dollars per barrel, compared to 61.31 U.S. dollars for WTI oil and 67.54 U.S. dollars for the OPEC basket. Oil prices rose slightly that week.Europe's Brent crude oil, the U.S. WTI crude oil, and OPEC's basket are three of the most important benchmarks used by traders as reference for global oil and gasoline prices. Lowest ever oil prices during coronavirus pandemic In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic resulted in crude oil prices hitting a major slump as oil demand drastically declined following lockdowns and travel restrictions. Initial outlooks and uncertainty surrounding the course of the pandemic brought about a disagreement between two of the largest oil producers, Russia and Saudi Arabia, in early March. Bilateral talks between global oil producers ended in agreement on April 13th, with promises to cut petroleum output and hopes rising that these might help stabilize the oil price in the coming weeks. However, with storage facilities and oil tankers quickly filling up, fears grew over where to store excess oil, leading to benchmark prices seeing record negative prices between April 20 and April 22, 2020. How crude oil prices are determined As with most commodities, crude oil prices are impacted by supply and demand, as well as inventories and market sentiment. However, as oil is most often traded in future contracts (where a contract is agreed upon while product delivery will follow in the next two to three months), market speculation is one of the principal determinants for oil prices. Traders make conclusions on how production output and consumer demand will likely develop over the coming months, leaving room for uncertainty. Spot prices differ from futures in so far as they reflect the current market price of a commodity.

United States Crude Oil Price: EIA: Landed Cost of Imports: UK data was reported at 70.010 USD/Barrel in Apr 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 68.190 USD/Barrel for Feb 2018. United States Crude Oil Price: EIA: Landed Cost of Imports: UK data is updated monthly, averaging 25.360 USD/Barrel from Mar 1977 (Median) to Apr 2018, with 369 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 128.950 USD/Barrel in May 2008 and a record low of 10.890 USD/Barrel in Dec 1998. United States Crude Oil Price: EIA: Landed Cost of Imports: UK data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.P002: Energy Price.

Heating Oil rose to 2.35 USD/Gal on December 2, 2025, up 0.21% from the previous day. Over the past month, Heating Oil's price has fallen 2.25%, but it is still 6.31% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Heating oil - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on December 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.

UK oil and natural gas production is on long-term decline as old oil and gas fields in the North Sea mature and near the end of their life cycle. Oil and gas extracting companies reaped the rewards of an upsurge in global prices through 2022-23, leading to sharp revenue growth. However, this quickly turned around in 2023-24, with most major companies’ revenue nosediving along with oil prices as oil and gas from America flooded the market, slightly outpacing demand. Still, revenue is expected to expand at a compound annual rate of 5.1% over the five years through 2025-26 to £23 billion, owing primarily to the significant price hikes of 2021-22 and 2022-23. This includes a forecast dip of 4.3% in 2025-26, owing to oil and gas prices edging down. Profit is also slated to fall over the year. Global oil and gas prices greatly affect the industry's performance, with the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) putting supply cuts in place and global tensions resulting in price peaks and troughs. In October 2022, OPEC instituted a supply cut of two million barrels of crude oil per day, driving Brent Crude Oil prices up to US$110 (£87.80) per barrel, which was extended until March 2025. At the same time, the sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict add further impetus to prices. The EU has banned imports of Russian-made oil and gas, providing opportunities for UK exporters. Crude oil prices remain high, but significant oil production from non-OPEC countries has made oil prices plummet since July 2024. Despite mounting tensions in the Middle East having the potential to cut oil supply from the region, the ongoing political tensions have yet to significantly impact global prices, with prices falling by 15.8% in the year to August 2025. Oil and gas prices are likely to continue inching downwards in the coming years. The UK government has implemented policies to create a more favourable environment for extractors in the North Sea to improve UK energy security. However, the depletion of natural resources, the high cost of extraction, low gas and oil prices and the global energy transition will threaten the industry's long-term viability. Revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 2% over the five years through 2030-31 to £25.4 billion, supported by two new major oil and gas fields, Jackdaw and Rosebank.

Petroleum refining companies in the UK produce a wide variety of products. Fuels for transport and heating are the most common, with petroleum products for transport consistently accounting for almost three-quarters of product demand, according to DESNZ. Industry revenue is expected to swell at a compound annual rate of 8.8% over the five years through 2025-26 to £44.8 billion, including a forecast dip of 2.2% in 2025-26, owing to staggering volatility in crude petroleum and fuel prices in recent years.

The COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on the industry. Global border and travel restrictions dented both demand for fuel and fuel prices, weighing on revenue and profitability for refiners. However, this trend was quickly reversed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This led to the UK and other major economies announcing that they would wean themselves off Russian oil, resulting in a sharp spike in oil prices from 2022 to 2023 and, to a lesser degree, from 2023 to 2024. Strong oil price inflation translated into higher-value sales for refined oil companies, paving the way for a robust recovery. However, with global oil supplies normalising in 2025-26 and demand for diesel and petrol struggling to return to pre-2019 levels, industry revenue is expected to slip in 2025-26. This is largely due to the growing adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, which is reducing demand from road transport. However, strong growth in the air freight and air passenger industries is supporting demand for jet fuel in 2025-26.

Industry revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 0.7% over the five years through 2030-31 to £46.3 billion. Demand for petrol and diesel-fueled vehicles is expected to decline due to government initiatives aimed at reducing emissions, including the expansion of Clean Air Zones and the ban on new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Demand for pure electric vehicles is likely to continue rising, posing a significant long-term threat to fuel demand.

The UK crude oil market totaled $43B in 2024, surging by 9.3% against the previous year. In general, consumption, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. Crude oil consumption peaked at $48.1B in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2024, consumption remained at a lower figure.

UK Gas fell to 72.60 GBp/thm on December 2, 2025, down 1.67% from the previous day. Over the past month, UK Gas's price has fallen 11.75%, and is down 40.33% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. UK Natural Gas - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on December of 2025.

In August 2025, the price for one barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil averaged 64.86 U.S. dollars. This was a slight increase compared to the previous month, although prices remained lower than they had been the previous year. WTI and other benchmark crudes WTI is also known as "Texas light sweet", and is a grade of crude oil used as a benchmark for oil produced in the United States. It has an API gravity of around 39.6 and specific gravity of about 0.827, which, relative to other crude oils, is considered “light,” hence the name. WTI also contains about 0.24 percent sulfur, making it a “sweet” crude oil. The price of WTI can be compared to the prices other of crude oils, i.e. UK Brent, the OPEC basket, and Dubai Fateh oil. WTI crude oil is the underlying commodity of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s oil futures contracts. U.S. oil production and its influence on light oil prices The price development of WTI crude oil relative to Brent crude oil has been influenced by variances in U.S. crude oil transportation and increased U.S. oil production. New transportation infrastructure became operational in early 2013, easing the movement of crude oil in the mid-continent and raising the price of WTI. Since then, U.S. refineries have increased production of crude oil to record levels, also raising the price of WTI. Meanwhile, expedited crude transport in the U.S. put downward pressure on Brent crude oil as domestic crude replaced some imported Brent crude. Between 2014 and 2016, UK Brent prices dropped rapidly, as was the case for all other crude oils.

Wholesale price for crude oil in the United Kingdom is projected to rise from ** to ** U.S. dollars per barrel between 2020 and 2035, respectively. Figures are expected to remain at ** U.S. dollars per barrel in 2040.

United States Crude Oil Price: EIA: FOB Cost of Imports: UK data was reported at 76.350 USD/Barrel in Jul 2007. This records an increase from the previous number of 62.040 USD/Barrel for Mar 2007. United States Crude Oil Price: EIA: FOB Cost of Imports: UK data is updated monthly, averaging 23.430 USD/Barrel from Mar 1977 (Median) to Jul 2007, with 238 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 76.350 USD/Barrel in Jul 2007 and a record low of 10.380 USD/Barrel in Jul 1986. United States Crude Oil Price: EIA: FOB Cost of Imports: UK data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.P002: Energy Price.

In May 2023, the price of Crude Palm Oil reached $1,074 per ton (CIF, United Kingdom), showing a decrease of -3.3% compared to the previous month.