On July 7, 2025, the Brent crude oil price stood at 69.62 U.S. dollars per barrel, compared to 67.93 U.S. dollars for WTI oil and 69.92 U.S. dollars for the OPEC basket. Prices rose slightly that week, following signs of an increase in demand.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.

Explore the factors that influence the price of petroleum in the international market, including supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical tensions, economic conditions, and market speculation. Understand the role of Brent crude oil as a benchmark and the impact of global events on oil prices. Stay informed about the current price fluctuations and the need to monitor multiple factors for accurate assessments.

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.

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.

The price of refined petroleum per barrel is influenced by various factors, including the price of crude oil, supply and demand dynamics, global geopolitical events, and macroeconomic indicators. Understanding these factors is essential for policymakers, energy companies, and consumers to foresee and adapt to changes in petroleum prices.

Brent rose to 70.45 USD/Bbl on July 14, 2025, up 0.12% from the previous day. Over the past month, Brent's price has fallen 3.80%, and is down 16.98% 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 July of 2025.

Learn about the factors that influence oil and gas prices and how they have evolved over the years, including supply disruptions, geopolitical tensions, economic growth, and the impact on various sectors.

Interactive chart showing the daily closing price for West Texas Intermediate (NYMEX) Crude Oil over the last 10 years. The prices shown are in U.S. dollars.

Gasoline rose to 2.19 USD/Gal on July 11, 2025, up 1.65% from the previous day. Over the past month, Gasoline's price has risen 1.03%, but it is still 12.72% lower than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Gasoline - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.

Crude oil prices have a significant impact on the global economy, influenced by factors such as supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical tensions, and economic outlook. This article explores the volatility of crude oil prices in recent years and their fluctuations due to events like the COVID-19 pandemic. It also highlights the current trends in oil prices and discusses the factors that can affect them.

On April 20th, 2020, the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil slumped into negative for the first time in history, falling to negative 37.63 U.S. dollars per barrel. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on the global oil and gas industry. Declining consumer demand and high levels of production output are threatening to exceed oil storage capacities, which resulted in the lowest ever oil prices noted between April 20th and April 22nd.

For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Fact and Figures page.

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

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.

Urals Oil rose to 66.46 USD/Bbl on July 11, 2025, up 2.31% from the previous day. Over the past month, Urals Oil's price has risen 2.96%, but it is still 18.42% lower than a year ago, 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.

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.

Crude Oil Price: Indonesia data was reported at 61.320 USD/Barrel in Jul 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 60.990 USD/Barrel for Jun 2019. Crude Oil Price: Indonesia data is updated monthly, averaging 42.500 USD/Barrel from Dec 1991 (Median) to Jul 2019, with 332 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 134.960 USD/Barrel in Jul 2008 and a record low of 9.990 USD/Barrel in Dec 1998. Crude Oil Price: Indonesia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Directorate General of Oil and Gas. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Indonesia – Table ID.PC001: Retail Price: By Major Commodities.

United States Crude Oil: Spot Price: Europe Brent data was reported at 65.910 USD/Barrel in 14 May 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 66.930 USD/Barrel for 13 May 2025. United States Crude Oil: Spot Price: Europe Brent data is updated daily, averaging 75.395 USD/Barrel from May 1987 (Median) to 14 May 2025, with 9638 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.P: 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]

Heating Oil rose to 2.47 USD/Gal on July 11, 2025, up 3.46% from the previous day. Over the past month, Heating Oil's price has risen 11.10%, but it is still 1.60% lower 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 July of 2025.

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.

Russia Average World Price: Diesel Fuel (Gasoil) data was reported at 556.400 USD/Ton in Dec 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 644.300 USD/Ton for Nov 2018. Russia Average World Price: Diesel Fuel (Gasoil) data is updated monthly, averaging 654.000 USD/Ton from Jan 2009 (Median) to Dec 2018, with 119 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,030.100 USD/Ton in Mar 2012 and a record low of 292.500 USD/Ton in Jan 2016. Russia Average World Price: Diesel Fuel (Gasoil) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Russian Federation – Table RU.PC002: Average World Prices, Crude Oil Export Price, Crude Oil Export Duty.