On March 24, 2025, the Brent crude oil price stood at 73.05 U.S. dollars per barrel, compared to 69.11 U.S. dollars for WTI oil and 75.11 U.S. dollars for the OPEC basket. These were slight increases compared to the previous weeks, which had seen some of the lowest prices in four years.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 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 (whereby a contract is agreed upon, while the 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.

The article provides an overview of the factors affecting the price of crude oil in the international market, including global demand, geopolitical events, production levels, and economic indicators. It highlights the significance of benchmarks such as Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and the role of OPEC in influencing oil prices. The article also explores the impact of global events, geopolitical tensions, and the COVID-19 pandemic on oil prices. It emphasizes the importance of referring to r

Crude Oil decreased 2.12 USD/BBL or 2.95% since the beginning of 2025, 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 March of 2025.

In February 2025, the average price of one barrel of Brent crude oil was 75.44 U.S. dollars. This was some four U.S. dollars below prices the previous month as demand for oil was expected to stagnate in the coming months. 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 twenty 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.

The 2025 annual OPEC oil price stood at 78.1 U.S. dollars per barrel, as of February. This would be lower than the 2024 average, which amounted to 79.86 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 2024 fall in prices was the result of weakened demand outlooks, primarily from China.

Brent decreased 0.64 USD/BBL or 0.85% since the beginning of 2025, 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 March of 2025.

The price of crude oil is constantly changing due to various factors such as supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical events, market speculation, and macroeconomic conditions. This article provides an overview of the current price of crude oil, its importance in global markets, and the factors that influence its volatility. It also discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oil prices and the role of OPEC+ in stabilizing the market. Investors, businesses, and consumers need to closely monitor these de

During the last quarter of 2024, the crude oil prices in the United States reached 61 USD/MT in December. The market saw changes in policy and supply chain interruptions influencing price fluctuations. Due to supply limitations after Libyan production halted and hurricane-related damage in the Gulf of Mexico, oil prices briefly increased in October.

Explore IMARC's latest publication, “Crude Oil Prices, Trend, Chart, Demand, Market Analysis, News, Historical and Forecast Data Report 2025 Edition,” presents a detailed examination of the crude oil market, providing insights into both global and regional trends that are shaping prices.

As of February 2025, the average annual price of Brent crude oil stood at 77.36 U.S. dollars per barrel. This is some three 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.

The current international crude oil price is a widely watched and closely followed indicator in the global energy markets. It has a significant impact on various sectors of the economy, including transportation, manufacturing, and overall inflation. This article discusses the factors influencing crude oil prices, the role of Brent Crude as the global benchmark, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prices, and the ongoing market sensitivity to geopolitical tensions and economic conditions.

The current price of US crude oil as of September 2021 is around $70-$75 per barrel. Learn about the factors that determine crude oil prices, including supply and demand dynamics, OPEC's influence, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical events, and economic conditions. Understand why monitoring market trends and staying informed about global events are crucial for those involved in the oil industry and investors alike.

The average spot price for West Texas Intermediate crude oil came to 76.63 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2024, a decrease of nearly one U.S. dollars compared to the previous year. The 2024 average spot price for Brent crude oil was 80.52 U.S. dollars. Both Brent and WTI are light crude oils, with the first used as a benchmark for gasoline prices around the world. Spot prices vs. future prices Spot prices refer to current market prices under which a commodity such as one barrel of crude oil may be bought for immediate delivery. In contrast, future prices refer to settlement and delivery at a later date. As a major refinery and storage hub, Cushing in Oklahoma is the delivery location for WTI traded via the New York Mercantile Exchange. When storage capacities threatened to reach their maximum capacity in April 2020, the WTI oil price crashed as a result, trading at record low prices. The WTI oil price fell into negative numbers for the first time in its history, closing out at negative 37.63 U.S. dollars per barrel on April 20th. The lowest value for Brent prices was 19.33 U.S. dollars per barrel. Influences on oil prices Oil prices are volatile commodities as their trading and delivery is heavily influenced by overall market development and geopolitical events. For example, the Russia-Ukraine war and resulting Russian sanctions brought about fears of supply bottlenecks, which pushed oil prices to decade-highs also reflected in the 2022 annual average.

The monthly crude oil price index worldwide reached 182.78 index points in February 2025. Prices decreased compared to the previous month as economic activity was expected to continue to stagnate.

The current price of a crude oil barrel is constantly changing due to various factors influencing the supply and demand dynamics of the commodity. This article discusses the factors that contribute to the fluctuation in crude oil prices, including supply and demand, OPEC and non-OPEC decisions, political and geopolitical factors, global economic conditions, and financial market speculation. It emphasizes the importance of monitoring these factors to understand and predict oil price trends. Disclaimer: The p

Graph and download economic data for Global price of Palm Oil (PPOILUSDM) from Jan 1990 to Feb 2025 about oil, World, food, and price.

The annual price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is expected to reach an average of 70.62 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2025, according to a February 2025 forecast. This would be a decrease of roughly six U.S. dollar compared to the previous year. In the first few weeks of 2025, weekly crude oil prices largely stayed below 75 U.S. dollars per barrel. What are benchmark crudes? WTI is often used as a price reference point called a benchmark (or ”marker”) crude. This category includes Brent crude from the North Sea, Dubai Crude, as well as blends in the OPEC reference basket. WTI, Brent, and the OPEC basket have tended to trade closely, but since 2011, Brent has been selling at a higher annual spot price than WTI, largely due to increased oil production in the United States. What causes price volatility? Oil prices are historically volatile. While mostly shaped by demand and supply like all consumer goods, they may also be affected by production limits, a change in U.S. dollar value, and to an extent by market speculation. In 2022, the annual average price for WTI was close to the peak of nearly 100 U.S. dollars recorded in 2008. In the latter year, multiple factors, such as strikes in Nigeria, an oil sale stop in Venezuela, and the continuous increase in oil demand from China were partly responsible for the price surge. Higher oil prices allowed the pursuit of extraction methods previously deemed too expensive and risky, such as shale gas and tight oil production in the U.S. The widespread practice of fracturing source rocks for oil and gas extraction led to the oil glut in 2016 and made the U.S. the largest oil producer in the world.

The price of crude soybean oil in the USA reached 1127 USD/MT by the end of December 2023. In China, the price of crude soybean oil settled at 888 USD/MT in December 2023. In December 2023, the crude soybean oil priced reached 989 USD/MT in Germany.

The global demand for crude oil (including biofuels) in 2023 amounted to 102.21 million barrels per day. The source expects economic activity and related oil demand to pick up by the end of the year, with forecast suggesting it could increase to more than 104 million barrels per day.

Motor fuels make up majority of oil demand

Oil is an important and versatile substance, used in different ways and in different forms for many applications. The road sector is the largest oil consuming sector worldwide. It accounts for nearly one half of the global demand for oil, largely due to reliance on motor spirits made from petroleum. The OPEC projects global oil product demand to reach 110 million barrels per day by 2045, with transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel expected to remain the most consumed products. Diesel and gasoil demand is forecast to amount to 30.1 million barrels per day in 2045, up from 27.6 million barrels in 2021. Gasoline demand is forecast at 27.6 million barrels by 2045.

Beyond oil - efforts made by an industry looking to cut carbon intensity

Despite oil producing bodies such as the OPEC seeing continued importance for crude oil in the future, efforts have been made within the energy industry in finding an alternative to the fossil fuel. One such alternative generating great enthusiasm is hydrogen. The most abundant chemical element in the universe has become of particular interest due to its potential as an energy carrier. Similar to oil, it may serve as a feedstock or main ingredient for transportation fuels, energy generation and storage, and also chemicals production. While today it is mainly won from natural gas conversion (so-called grey hydrogen), most investments are aimed at making hydrogen production through electrolysis using renewable electricity (green hydrogen) more cost efficient. Oil refineries and ammonia production facilities are main consumers of hydrogen, with the transportation sector accounting for a much lesser share.

United States Crude Oil: Spot Price: Europe Brent data was reported at 72.640 USD/Barrel in 21 Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 72.610 USD/Barrel for 20 Mar 2025. United States Crude Oil: Spot Price: Europe Brent data is updated daily, averaging 75.935 USD/Barrel from May 1987 (Median) to 21 Mar 2025, with 9603 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 133.180 USD/Barrel in 08 Mar 2022 and a record low of 9.120 USD/Barrel in 21 Apr 2020. United States Crude Oil: Spot Price: Europe Brent data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Commodity Market – Table US.P026: Petroleum Spot Price: Energy Information Administration. Preliminarily updated with previous day data every weekday. Final data released once a week (every Wednesday) with data from Tuesday to Friday of the previous week up to Monday of the current week. If Wednesday falls on a holiday, the data will be released on the next business day. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Urals Oil decreased 3.02 USD/Bbl or 4.41% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Urals Crude.