As of May 2025, the average annual price of Brent crude oil stood at 72 U.S. dollars per barrel. This is some eight 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 a 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 rose to 70.69 USD/Bbl on July 11, 2025, up 2.99% from the previous day. Over the past month, Brent's price has risen 1.92%, but it is still 16.86% lower than a year ago, 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 July of 2025.

Crude Oil rose to 68.75 USD/Bbl on July 11, 2025, up 3.27% from the previous day. Over the past month, Crude Oil's price has risen 1.04%, but it is still 16.37% lower than a year ago, 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 July of 2025.

Crude Oil Production in the United Kingdom decreased to 639 BBL/D/1K in March from 660 BBL/D/1K in February of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Crude Oil Production - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

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.

Consumption of oil in the United Kingdom has seen an overall decline during the displayed period, falling to **** million barrels per day by 2024. Most oil consumption in the UK is used for transport, especially road transport. However, demand is expected to decline in the following decades. In comparison, the consumption by the aviation sector is set to increase. Imports higher than production Since 2010, the UK’s crude oil production has mostly been in decline, despite recording increases in 2015 and 2016. Production had fallen to nearly ******* barrels per day by 2023. Projections for production show a gradual decrease to an estimated **** million metric tons of oil equivalent by 2050. Demand is set to be nearly *********** the amount of indigenous production. Oil reserves in decline Along with Norway, the UK holds the greatest oil reserves in the North Sea. However, these have been in decline for decades. Between the end of 1995 and the end of 2023, proved reserves fell from over **** billion barrels to *** billion barrels.

Key information about United Kingdom Crude Oil: Production

• United Kingdom Crude Oil: Production was reported at 645.370 Barrel/Day th in Dec 2023
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 723.586 Barrel/Day th for Dec 2022
• UK Crude Oil: Production data is updated yearly, averaging 1,139.569 Barrel/Day th from Dec 1960 to 2023, with 64 observations
• The data reached an all-time high of 2,649.389 Barrel/Day th in 1999 and a record low of 1.583 Barrel/Day th in 1972
• UK Crude Oil: Production data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Energy Sector – Table RB.OPEC.CO: Crude Oil Production: Yearly

Key information about United Kingdom Crude Oil: Imports

• United Kingdom Crude Oil: Imports was reported at 830.306 Barrel/Day th in Dec 2023
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 847.893 Barrel/Day th for Dec 2022
• UK Crude Oil: Imports data is updated yearly, averaging 874.595 Barrel/Day th from Dec 1980 to 2023, with 44 observations
• The data reached an all-time high of 1,127.872 Barrel/Day th in 2004 and a record low of 466.700 Barrel/Day th in 1983
• UK Crude Oil: Imports data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Energy Sector – Table RB.OPEC.CO: Crude Oil Imports

Forecast: Crude Oil Production in the UK 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

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 accounting for almost three-quarters of product demand. Industry revenue is expected to swell at a compound annual rate of 2.6% over the five years through 2024-25 to £50.7 billion, including a forecast dip of 0.2% in 2024-25, owing to staggering volatility in oil 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 they would wean themselves off Russian oil, leading to a sharp spike in oil prices over 2022-23 and, to a lesser degree, 2023-24. Strong oil price inflation translated into higher value sales for refined oil companies, paving the way for a strong recovery. A number of petroleum refiners have altered their production to focus on diesel as the new primary fuel. Both petrol and diesel face rising competition from alternatively fuelled vehicles due to their reduced emissions, lowering demand for oil-derived fuels. Industry revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 6.1% over the five years through 2029-30 to £68.4 billion. Demand for petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles is set to fall due to government initiatives designed to reduce emissions, including the extension of Clean Air Zones and the banning of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Demand for pure electric vehicles will continue to climb, presenting a significant threat to fuel demand in the long term.

After three years of growth, supplies from abroad of crude petroleum oil decreased by -2.9% to 50M tons in 2023.

Key information about United Kingdom Crude Oil: Exports

• United Kingdom Crude Oil: Exports was reported at 492.498 Barrel/Day th in Dec 2023
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 550.993 Barrel/Day th for Dec 2022
• UK Crude Oil: Exports data is updated yearly, averaging 1,048.139 Barrel/Day th from Dec 1980 to 2023, with 44 observations
• The data reached an all-time high of 1,747.255 Barrel/Day th in 2000 and a record low of 492.498 Barrel/Day th in 2023
• UK Crude Oil: Exports data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Energy Sector – Table RB.OPEC.CO: Crude Oil Exports

UK oil and gas production has diminished over the past decade because old oil fields have matured while developing new commercially viable sources has become increasingly challenging. To combat this, extractors have pooled their resources and formed partnerships to enhance efficiency, while some have benefitted from previous investments in fields coming onstream. Oil and gas extracting companies also 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 growing global oil and gas from America flooded the market, slightly outpacing demand. Revenue is expected to expand at a compound annual rate of 3.4% over the five years through 2024-25 to just over £33 billion. This includes a forecast hike of 5.3% in 2024-25; however, profit is slated to inch downward over the year as global oil and gas prices remain somewhat flat in the second half of 2024-25. 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 has been extended until March 2025, with a ramping up period through September 2025. This is set to keep oil prices stable by limiting global oil supplies in the face of growing production in non-OPEC countries. 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 threatening a glut in the oil market and a significant dip in global demand (especially from China) 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 hiking up around 10% in the month to October 2024 but remaining relatively low. Oil and gas prices are likely to continue inching downwards in the coming years as the US is forecast to continue ramping up the global oil and gas supply. This, along with an expected drop in global demand for oil and gas in the long term, will limit growth. The UK government will implement policies to create a more favourable environment for extractors and further investment in the North Sea to improve UK energy security. However, the depletion of natural resources, the expensive cost of extraction, low gas and oil prices and the global energy transition will threaten the industry's long-term viability. The government announced a delay to the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, along with the relaxation of some net-zero policies in September 2023, which should keep fossil fuel explorers afloat for longer. Revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 3.4% over the five years through 2029-30 to just over £39 billion.

In 2024, the UK imported 49.7 million tons of crude oil, and exported 31.2 million tons, resulting in a trade deficit of 18.5 million tons of crude oil in this year.

Brent crude oil is projected to have an average annual spot price of 65.85 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2025, according to a forecast from May 2025. This would mean a decrease of nearly 15 U.S. dollars compared to the previous year, and also reflects 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.

Forecast: Crude Oil Imports to the UK 2023 - 2027 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Interactive daily chart of Brent (Europe) crude oil prices over the last ten years. Values shown are daily closing prices.