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.

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.

The 2025 annual OPEC oil price stood at ***** U.S. dollars per barrel, as of May. This would be lower than the 2024 average, which amounted to ***** 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.

Crude Oil fell to 64.78 USD/Bbl on July 1, 2025, down 0.50% from the previous day. Over the past month, Crude Oil's price has risen 3.62%, but it is still 21.77% 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.

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

The price of Ecopetrol's crude oil basket stood at 73.3 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2024. This was a slight decline from the previous year, when Ecopetrol's crude oil basket average price reached 10 cents of U.S. dollars more per barrel. Ecopetrol, headquartered in Bogotá, is Colombia's national oil corporation.

Brent fell to 66.38 USD/Bbl on July 1, 2025, down 0.53% from the previous day. Over the past month, Brent's price has risen 2.71%, but it is still 23.02% 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.

The 2025 preliminary average annual price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil reached 68.24 U.S. dollars per barrel, as of May. This would be eight 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.

Urals Oil fell to 63.77 USD/Bbl on June 26, 2025, down 0.76% from the previous day. Over the past month, Urals Oil's price has risen 10.62%, but it is still 20.34% 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.

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.

Learn about the factors that contributed to the significant volatility in international crude oil prices in 2014, including increased shale oil production, geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, and OPEC's decision not to cut production.

About the Project

KAPSARC is analyzing the shifting dynamics of the global gas markets. Global gas markets have turned upside down during the past five years: North America has emerged as a large potential future LNG exporter while gas demand growth has been slowing down as natural gas gets squeezed between coal and renewables. While the coming years will witness the fastest LNG export capacity expansion ever seen, many questions are raised on the next generation of LNG supply, the impact of low oil and gas prices on supply and demand patterns and how pricing and contractual structure may be affected by both the arrival of U.S. LNG on global gas markets and the desire of Asian buyers for cheaper gas.

Key Points

In the past year, global gas prices have dropped significantly, albeit at unequal paces depending on the region. All else being equal, economists would suggest that this should have generated a positive demand response. However, “all else” was not equal. Prices of other commodities also declined while economic growth forecasts were downgraded.

Prices at benchmark points such as the U.K. National Balancing Point (NBP), U.S. Henry Hub (HH) and Japan/Korea Marker (JKM) slumped due to lower oil prices, liquefied natural gas (LNG) oversupply and unseasonal weather. Yet, the prices of natural gas in local currencies have increased in a number of developing countries in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, former Soviet Union (FSU) and Asia.

North America experienced demand growth while gas in Europe and Asia faced rising competition from cheaper coal, renewables and, in some instances, nuclear. Gains to European demand were mostly weather related while increases in Africa and Latin America were not significant.

For LNG, Europe became the market of last resort as Asian consumption declined. Moreover, an anticipated surge in LNG supply, brought on by several new projects, may lead to a confrontation with Russian or other pipeline gas suppliers to Europe. At the same time, Asian buyers are seeking concessions on pricing and flexibility in their long-term contracts.

Looking ahead, natural gas has to prove itself a credible and affordable alternative to coal, notably in Asia, if the world is to reach its climate change targets. The future of the gas industry will also depend on oil prices, evolution of Chinese energy demand and impact of COP21 on national energy policies. Current low prices mean there is likely to be a pause in final investment decisions (FIDs) on LNG projects in the coming years.

In 2014, crude oil prices experienced significant volatility and fluctuations due to various global economic and political factors. The year started with relatively stable prices but ended with a sharp decline in prices that had a profound impact on the oil industry and global economy. This article discusses the factors that contributed to the decline in crude oil prices, including the increasing production of shale oil in the United States, the weakening global economy, and OPEC's decision to maintain

This statistic displays the price of Mixed Sweet Blend (MSW) crude oil from 2014 to the first quarter of 2019. In 2019, the price of MSW amounted to 51.90 U.S. dollars per barrel of crude oil.

This data package includes the underlying data and files to replicate the calculations, charts, and tables presented in Oil Prices and Interstate Conflict Behavior, PIIE Working Paper 14-3. If you use the data, please cite as: Hendrix, Cullen S. (2014). Oil Prices and Interstate Conflict Behavior. PIIE Working Paper 14-3. Peterson Institute for International Economics.

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.

Avg Price: Crude Oil: Western Canada Select Hardisty data was reported at 392.060 CAD/Cub m in Jul 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 387.380 CAD/Cub m for Jun 2018. Avg Price: Crude Oil: Western Canada Select Hardisty data is updated monthly, averaging 306.860 CAD/Cub m from Jan 2014 (Median) to Jul 2018, with 55 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 584.040 CAD/Cub m in Jun 2014 and a record low of 153.130 CAD/Cub m in Feb 2016. Avg Price: Crude Oil: Western Canada Select Hardisty data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Kent Group Ltd.. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.P001: Average Price: Crude Oil.

Malaysia Brent Crude Oil Price data was reported at 61.650 MYR/MMBtu in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 60.180 MYR/MMBtu for Feb 2025. Malaysia Brent Crude Oil Price data is updated monthly, averaging 50.300 MYR/MMBtu from Jan 2014 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 135 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 102.750 MYR/MMBtu in May 2022 and a record low of 14.420 MYR/MMBtu in Apr 2020. Malaysia Brent Crude Oil Price data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Commission. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.P006: Fuel Price. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

In May 2025, the price for one barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil averaged 62.17 U.S. dollars. This was a decrease compared to the previous month and the lowest figure in the past 24-month period amid continued weak demand outlooks. 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.

This statistic depicts the average annual prices for palm oil from 2014 through 2026*. In 2023, the average price for palm oil stood at 886 nominal U.S. dollars per metric ton.