The 2025 preliminary average annual price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil reached 73.64 U.S. dollars per barrel, as of February. This would be lower than the 2024 average, which stood at 73.64 U.S. dollars per barrel. WTI and other benchmarks WTI is a grade of crude oil also known as “Texas light sweet.” It is measured to have an API gravity of around 39.6 and specific gravity of about 0.83, which is considered “light” relative to other crude oils. This oil also contains roughly 0.24 percent sulfur, and is therefore named “sweet.” Crude oils are some of the most closely observed commodity prices in the world. WTI is the underlying commodity of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s oil futures contracts. The price of other crude oils, such as UK Brent crude oil, the OPEC crude oil basket, and Dubai Fateh oil, can be compared to that of WTI crude oil. Since 1976, the price of WTI crude oil has increased notably, rising from just 12.23 U.S. dollars per barrel in 1976 to a peak of 99.06 dollars per barrel in 2008. Geopolitical conflicts and their impact on oil prices The price of oil is controlled in part by limiting oil production. Prior to 1971, the Texas Railroad Commission controlled the price of oil by setting limits on production of U.S. oil. In 1971, the Texas Railroad Commission ceased limiting production, but OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries with member states Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela among others, continued to do so. In 1972, due to geopolitical conflict, OPEC set an oil embargo and cut oil production, causing prices to quadruple by 1974. Oil prices rose again in 1979 and 1980 due to the Iranian revolution, and doubled between 1978 and 1981 as the Iran-Iraq War prevented oil production. A number of geopolitical conflicts and periods of increased production and consumption have influenced the price of oil since then.

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.

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.

Read about the historical prices of WTI oil, one of the major benchmarks for global oil prices, influenced by factors such as global supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical events, and changes in global oil production.

In February 2025, the price for one barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil averaged 71.53 U.S. dollars. This was a decrease compared to the previous month amid continued weak demand outlooks and expectations for production increases. 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.

Have timely access to reliable Crude Oil price assessments in United States:

• Crude Oil (WTI), export spot price, fob, Cushing

Each assessment includes Crude Oil price history for the past 10 years, current prices, and short-term forecasts. Price assessments are updated on the 3rd business day of every month and are accessible via online charts, an Excel Add-In, and an API. Free previews for all assessments are available at Intratec website.

Crude Oil price assessments for United States and up to 32 other countries are part of Intratec Energy Price References. Subscribe and access now current prices of key energy commodities worldwide.

The WTI Crude Oil Futures Price Chart provides a visual representation of the historical prices of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures. Traders, investors, and analysts can use this chart to track price movements, study historical price patterns, and compare current prices with historical data. Additionally, the chart may include features such as trading volume and open interest to provide further insights into the market. However, it is important to consider other factors such as geopolitical e

Learn about the role of the Energy Information Administration (EIA) in monitoring and reporting on WTI oil prices, including its weekly report on crude oil stocks and production levels, its monthly analysis of the energy sector, and its historical data on WTI oil prices. Discover how these reports and analysis are used by market participants to make informed decisions in the oil market.

Ecuador Crude Oil: Price: Average: Petroleum WTI data was reported at 54.680 USD/Barrel in Jun 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 60.730 USD/Barrel for May 2019. Ecuador Crude Oil: Price: Average: Petroleum WTI data is updated monthly, averaging 75.215 USD/Barrel from Jan 2010 (Median) to Jun 2019, with 114 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 109.890 USD/Barrel in Apr 2011 and a record low of 30.330 USD/Barrel in Feb 2016. Ecuador Crude Oil: Price: Average: Petroleum WTI data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ecuador. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.P001: Crude Oil Prices.

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.

Have timely access to reliable Crude Oil price assessments in Netherlands:

• Crude Oil (WTI), spot price, dap, Rotterdam

Each assessment includes Crude Oil price history for the past 10 years, current prices, and short-term forecasts. Price assessments are updated on the 3rd business day of every month and are accessible via online charts, an Excel Add-In, and an API. Free previews for all assessments are available at Intratec website.

Crude Oil price assessments for Netherlands and up to 32 other countries are part of Intratec Energy Price References. Subscribe and access now current prices of key energy commodities worldwide.

Have timely access to reliable Crude Oil price assessments in Belgium:

• Crude Oil (WTI), import spot price, cif, Belgium

Each assessment includes Crude Oil price history for the past 10 years, current prices, and short-term forecasts. Price assessments are updated on the 3rd business day of every month and are accessible via online charts, an Excel Add-In, and an API. Free previews for all assessments are available at Intratec website.

Crude Oil price assessments for Belgium and up to 32 other countries are part of Intratec Energy Price References. Subscribe and access now current prices of key energy commodities worldwide.

Ecuador WTI Napo Crude Oil Spread: Petroecuador data was reported at 5.700 USD/Barrel in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.800 USD/Barrel for Sep 2018. Ecuador WTI Napo Crude Oil Spread: Petroecuador data is updated monthly, averaging 10.300 USD/Barrel from May 2006 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 150 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26.290 USD/Barrel in Jul 2008 and a record low of -6.210 USD/Barrel in Mar 2012. Ecuador WTI Napo Crude Oil Spread: Petroecuador data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ecuador. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.RB002: Crude Oil Prices: West Texas Intermediate Spreads.

Browse Micro WTI Crude Oil Futures (MCL) market data. Get instant pricing estimates and make batch downloads of binary, CSV, and JSON flat files.

The CME Group Market Data Platform (MDP) 3.0 disseminates event-based bid, ask, trade, and statistical data for CME Group markets and also provides recovery and support services for market data processing. MDP 3.0 includes the introduction of Simple Binary Encoding (SBE) and Event Driven Messaging to the CME Group Market Data Platform. Simple Binary Encoding (SBE) is based on simple primitive encoding, and is optimized for low bandwidth, low latency, and direct data access. Since March 2017, MDP 3.0 has changed from providing aggregated depth at every price level (like CME's legacy FAST feed) to providing full granularity of every order event for every instrument's direct book. MDP 3.0 is the sole data feed for all instruments traded on CME Globex, including futures, options, spreads and combinations. Note: We classify exchange-traded spreads between futures outrights as futures, and option combinations as options.

Origin: Directly captured at Aurora DC3 with an FPGA-based network card and hardware timestamping. Synchronized to UTC with PTP

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Supported market data schemas: MBO, MBP-1, MBP-10, TBBO, Trades, OHLCV-1s, OHLCV-1m, OHLCV-1h, OHLCV-1d, Definition, Statistics Learn more

Resolution: Immediate publication, nanosecond-resolution timestamps

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.

Historical oil futures prices provide valuable insights into the trends and fluctuations in the global oil market. This article explores the role of WTI crude oil futures contract, significant price fluctuations, and the importance of historical data in analyzing oil prices and making informed decisions.

The price of US barrel oil, also known as West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil, has historically fluctuated due to geopolitical events, supply and demand dynamics, OPEC decisions, and global economic conditions. This article explores the historical trends of US oil prices, from its record high of $147 per barrel in 2008 to its low of $26 per barrel in 2016, and its current standing at around $70 per barrel. Learn about the factors that influence oil prices and their impact on the global economy and geopo

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.

Ecuador WTI Crude Oil Basket Spread data was reported at 3.900 USD/Barrel in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.800 USD/Barrel for Aug 2018. Ecuador WTI Crude Oil Basket Spread data is updated monthly, averaging 4.620 USD/Barrel from Jan 1984 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 417 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.000 USD/Barrel in Jul 2008 and a record low of -14.190 USD/Barrel in Oct 2011. Ecuador WTI Crude Oil Basket Spread data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ecuador. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.RB002: Crude Oil Prices: West Texas Intermediate Spreads.

The Dow Crude Oil Prices, also known as the spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil, refers to the current market price at which the commodity can be bought and sold for immediate delivery. The price acts as a benchmark for other oil prices around the world and is closely monitored by governments, investors, and oil industry professionals. Historical volatility, factors influencing prices, and the role of OPEC are discussed, highlighting the importance of these prices for businesses, policymak