In April 2025, the average price of the OPEC basket was 68.98 U.S. dollars per barrel. This was a notable decrease compared to the previous month and the lowest value in the past 24 months. The OPEC basket is a weighted average of prices for petroleum blends produced by OPEC countries. OPEC stands for “Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries,” and was founded in 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq. The main aim of OPEC is to coordinate the oil policies of its members, and thus to have more influence on the international oil market. It is used as an important benchmark for crude oil prices. The OPEC basket oil price The OPEC crude oil price is defined by the price of the so-called OPEC (reference) basket. This basket is an average of the prices of petroleum blends that are produced by the OPEC members. The following countries are members of this organization: Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and the United Arab Emirates. Some of these oil blends are, for example: Saharan Blend from Algeria, Basra Light from Iraq, and Arab Light from Saudi Arabia. The OPEC reference basket includes both heavy and light crude oils, and is heavier than most other crudes. OPEC's oil production amounted to 34 million barrels per day in 2023. Oil price benchmarks The OPEC basket is one of the most crucial benchmarks for crude oil pricing 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. Looking at the OPEC price within the last two years, the highest price was some 94.6 U.S. dollars per barrel in September 2023.

In April 2025, the average price of one barrel of Brent crude oil was 68.13 U.S. dollars. This was nearly five U.S. dollars below prices the previous month and the lowest value in the past 24-month period 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 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.

In Ghana, the price of crude oil stood at 75.37 U.S. dollars per barrel as of October 2024, an increase from 72.7 U.S. dollars in the preceding month. Within the period reviewed, the international price of crude oil in the country generally fluctuated. Overall, in December 2024, Ghana had a crude oil production capacity of 188,000 barrels per day.

On June 2, 2025, the Brent crude oil price stood at 64.5 U.S. dollars per barrel, compared to 62.52 U.S. dollars for WTI oil and 65.13 U.S. dollars for the OPEC basket. Crude oil prices were some of the lowest they had been since February 2021.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.

OPEC accounts for over 37 percent of the world’s total crude oil production. In 2023, OPEC's production showed a decrease of 1.5 percentage points compared to the previous year. That same year, the annual average OPEC reference basket price was 83 U.S. dollars per barrel. OPEC stands for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and was established in Iraq in 1960. Regional distribution OPEC includes 13 member countries located mostly in the Middle East and Africa, though also in South America. Over the past decade, roughly a third of the world’s total oil production has come from the Middle East, while the share produced by Africa and South America have been declining. Overall, global oil production has increased in almost every year except during times of economic crisis. OPEC has the highest global reserves share Although combined production has fluctuated at almost the 40 percent mark, the OPEC's share in global crude oil reserves was significantly higher. In 2023, it was double the worldwide production share. Similar to production, this figure has also remained relatively unchanging in the last decade.

Prices in US dollars per barrel of WCS oil and in Canadian dollars per gigajoule of natural gas.

The statistic represents the average landed cost of US crude oil imports from Colombia between 1990 and 2012. In 2000, this figure stood at 29.68 US dollars** per barrel. Landed costs do not include supplemental fees.

In 2024, the export price for one barrel of the Urals crude oil was expected to reach 70 U.S. dollars. In the following year, the Russian government expected it to decrease slightly, and in 2027, it was projected to reach 65.5 U.S. dollars per barrel. Urals is Russia's major export oil brand. Crude oil prices in Russia Different types of oil, such as light-weight, low-sulfur (light-sweet) grades and heavier, higher-sulfur (heavy-sour) crudes, can create differences in oil prices. Prices of a barrel of crude oil tend to fluctuate throughout the year due to factors like sulfur content, specific gravity, and location. In recent years, the price of Russian Urals crude oil reached a high of almost 95 U.S. dollars per barrel in February 2022 and a low of 16.6 U.S. dollars per barrel in April 2020. The Urals oil is used as a basis for Russian export oil mixture – a mix of heavy, high-oil from the Urals and Volga region and a light Siberian oil. The oil and gas industry account for a large majority of the country’s export income. Many global sources of crude oil are located in areas that are prone to political upheavals or have production disrupted by political events. Prices of major crude oil blends In comparison, the West Texas Intermediate crude oil price was estimated at 79.5 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2024. Furthermore, Dubai Fateh oil prices have fluctuated in the past decade, having reached 82.1 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2023. Prices of petroleum products fluctuate in parallel with crude oil prices but can also depend on seasonality, market factors, or refining outages. Petroleum products like gasoline, diesel, and petrochemical feedstocks are usually the most relevant to consumers.

The annual price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is expected to reach an average of 61.81 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2025, according to a May 2025 forecast. This would be a decrease of roughly 15 U.S. dollar compared to the previous year. In the first months weeks of 2025, weekly crude oil prices largely stayed below 70 U.S. dollars per barrel amid trade tariffs and expected economic downturn. 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 2025 preliminary average annual price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil reached 69.76 U.S. dollars per barrel, as of April. This would be seven U.S. dollars below the 2024 average and the lowest annual average since 2021. 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 Oil & Gas Engineering Services Market was valued at USD 0.11 billion in 2019 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.50%, to reach USD 0.17 billion by 2033. The growth of this market is attributed to the increasing demand for oil and gas resources, which has driven the need for efficient and reliable engineering services to support the safe and sustainable extraction, transportation, and processing of these resources. Additionally, advancements in technology and digitalization have further enhanced the capabilities of engineering services, leading to greater efficiency and cost savings. Key drivers of this market include the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for optimizing operations, the need to improve safety and efficiency in the oil and gas industry, and the rising demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. Key trends include the integration of real-time monitoring and predictive analytics to improve decision-making, the use of cloud computing and big data to enhance collaboration and efficiency, and the increasing adoption of autonomous and remotely operated systems to reduce costs and improve safety. Major companies operating in this market include Stress Engineering Services Inc., Toyo Engineering Corporation, Element Materials Technology, L&T Technology Services Limited, Arseal Technologies, Citec Group Oy Ab, WSP Global Inc., Wood PLC, Tetra Tech, Inc., Mannvit Consulting Engineers, QuEST Global Services Pte. Ltd., M&H, Hatch Ltd., and Lloyd's Register Group Services Limited Recent developments include: May 2022:After a break of more than two years, the West White Rose Project offshore of Newfoundland and Labrador will continue, with the first oil from the platform anticipated in the first half of 2026, according to Canadian company Cenovus Energy and its partners. Construction on the project was halted in March 2020 after the Covid-19 outbreak to stop the virus from spreading. In January 2021, Husky Energy, which at the time managed the project, merged with Cenovus Energy. The project is expected to produce at its maximum rate of roughly 80,000 barrels per day (bbls/d), or 45,000 bbls/d net to Cenovus, by the end of 2029., In october 2022:Fluor Corporation was awarded a reimbursable front-end engineering and detailed design, engineering and procurement services contract for Imperial. The new complex is expected to be the largest renewable diesel production facility in Canada and will produce approximately 20,000 barrels of renewable diesel per day from locally sourced feedstocks. The company progresses plans to develop a world-class renewable diesel complex at its Strathcona refinery near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.. Notable trends are: Industrialization and rapid urbanization is driving the market growth.

The Indian energy sector encompasses conventional sources such as coal, natural gas, oil as well as unconventional sources including solar, hydro and bio-waste. The south Asian country ranks third worldwide for primary energy consumption after China and the United States. The gigantic energy consumption could very likely have been the cause of increased demand that was reflected in the volume of crude oil imports across the country, which was approximated to be around 233.12 million metric tons during financial year 2024. The sectorThe oil and gas sector in the country is one of the eight core industries present and is a major influence on the other sectors that contribute to the economy as well. Increased demand needs to be met with sufficient supply. The refinery capacity of crude oil has been increasing over the years. The tug of war with the crude oil prices in the country also seems to be edging in favor of higher prices. The annual growth rate in the average price of crude oil was 25 percent lower in financial year 2021 compared with the previous year. Low on fuelThe depleting fossil fuel reserves have not helped the population in terms of prices of oil products. The production volume of onshore crude oil has declined gradually over the years. However, the climate agreements of Copenhagen and Paris might result in increased investments and clean energy installations, providing a possible solution for India’s deficiency in fuel sources.

The 2025 annual OPEC oil price stood at 74.79 U.S. dollars per barrel, as of April. 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 2025 fall in prices was the result of weakened demand outlooks exacerbated by extensive U.S. trade tariffs.

In 2024, Saudi Aramco had a revenue of about 436.6 billion U.S. dollars. This was a slight drop from about 440.9 billion U.S. dollars in the previous year. Saudi Aramco overview Saudi Aramco, also known as Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is the world's largest oil producer. It was established in the city of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. Over the past 80 years it became the world’s leader in hydrocarbons exploration, production, refining, distribution, and marketing. Saudi Aramco’s oil and gas production infrastructure leads the industry in production scale, operational reliability, and technical advances. Today, it is one of the most profitable companies worldwide, reporting a net income of over 100 billion U.S. dollars in the 2021 fiscal year. Saudi oil industry Despite experiencing a drop in 2020, the gross domestic product of the oil sector in Saudi Arabia was over 600 billion Saudi riyals. Saudi Arabia has one of the largest oil reserve in the world, measuring more than 40 billion metric tons. Oil production in Saudi Arabia exceeded 11 million barrels per day. Moreover, it is the global export leader in the oil industry. The huge quantity of petroleum and the ease of extraction gave the country an edge over other oil producers, making them more cost effective.

As of April 2025, the average annual price of Brent crude oil stood at 73.89 U.S. dollars per barrel. This is some seven 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.

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, oil prices in the United Kingdom stood at 74 dollars per barrel, with prices expected to rise to 76.6 dollars a barrel in early 2025, before gradually falling in subsequent quarters.

In the fiscal year 2023, the price of crude oil per barrel of oil in Japan amounted to around 86.28 U.S. dollars. The price decreased compared to about 102.26 dollars in the previous fiscal year.

The value added by the U.S. oil and gas extraction industry amounted to 257.03 billion U.S dollars in 2023. This was a notable decrease from the previous year, but an increase compared to before 2021 which saw a decline in oil product demand due to pandemic-induced lockdowns. Energy supply fears in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war as well as a return to pre-pandemic level economic activity are partly responsible for the increase in value added noted in 2022. The close connection between 'value added' and crude oil prices The term 'value added' here refers to the difference between the industry's gross output and the cost of production. In the oil and gas industry, the annual value added is majorly influenced by the impact of world market developments on crude oil prices. As these prices underlay market speculation they are especially volatile. For example, the peak in value added recorded in 2022 comes as domestic first purchase prices for crude oil in the U.S. saw a major increase to over 90 U.S. dollars per barrel, benefiting producers in the country. In 2023, the price was nearly 76 U.S. dollars per barrel. Oil and gas industry's contributions to U.S. GDP Producing sectors have historically been a major contributor to the country's gross domestic product. However, as technological advancements have strengthened the service industry, the role of producing sectors declined. In 2023, mining (which includes oil and gas extraction) contributed 380.9 billion U.S. dollars to U.S. coffers. This made it the third smallest contributing just sector ahead of utilities and agriculture.

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.

According to projections for 2025, the fiscal breakeven oil price for Qatar was 44.7 U.S. dollars per barrel. The projections for Qatar's external breakeven oil price for the same time period were at 40.8 U.S. dollars per barrel.