As of August 2025, the average annual price of Brent crude oil stood at 71.3 U.S. dollars per barrel. This is over nine 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 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 fell to 59.17 USD/Bbl on December 2, 2025, down 0.25% from the previous day. Over the past month, Crude Oil's price has fallen 3.08%, and is down 15.40% compared to the same time last year, 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 December of 2025.

On October 27, 2025, the Brent crude oil price stood at 65.14 U.S. dollars per barrel, compared to 61.31 U.S. dollars for WTI oil and 67.54 U.S. dollars for the OPEC basket. Oil prices rose slightly that week.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 global 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 (where a contract is agreed upon while 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.

Brent fell to 63.05 USD/Bbl on December 2, 2025, down 0.19% from the previous day. Over the past month, Brent's price has fallen 2.84%, and is down 14.36% 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 December of 2025.

The 2025 preliminary average annual price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil reached 67.83 U.S. dollars per barrel as of August. This would be nine 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.

In August 2025, the average price of one barrel of Brent crude oil was 67.87 U.S. dollars. This was a decrease from the previous month and 12 U.S. dollars below July 2024 prices. 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.

Urals Oil fell to 54.22 USD/Bbl on December 1, 2025, down 0.37% from the previous day. Over the past month, Urals Oil's price has fallen 7.52%, and is down 17.95% compared to the same time last year, 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 May 2025, the average monthly price of the Urals crude oil, Russia's major export oil brand, was approximately ***** U.S. dollars per barrel, having decreased from the previous month. In 2020, the price of the Urals experienced a considerable decrease at the beginning of the year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, dropping to as low as **** U.S. dollars per barrel in April. What is the purpose of the Russian oil price cap? In early December 2022, the G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom (UK), and the United States), the European Union (EU), and Australia formed the Price Cap Coalition and imposed a price cap of 60 U.S. dollars per barrel on oil originating in Russia. The aim of the price ceiling is to decrease Russia’s earnings from oil exports and thereby limit the Russian government’s budget to finance the war in Ukraine. At the same time, the cap is meant to ensure that Russia continues to supply oil to emerging economies, though at a discounted price. With the cap in place, Russia cannot sell oil at a higher price even to third countries if the oil tankers are financed or insured by members of the Price Cap Coalition. In early February 2023, a price cap of 100 U.S. dollars per barrel was imposed on Russian refined oil products. Global dependence on Russian oil China was Russia’s leading crude oil export destination, with the value of exports measured at nearly **** billion U.S. dollars in 2021. In physical terms, Russia supplied around *** million metric tons of crude oil to China in 2024, being the leading crude oil import origin in the country ahead of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, European countries were major consumers of Russian oil prior to the war in Ukraine. For instance, Russia accounted for over ** percent of oil and petroleum products imported into Slovakia in 2020. To compare, the dependence rate stood at nearly ** percent in Lithuania, ** percent in Germany, and ** percent in the UK.

The international crude oil price has experienced significant fluctuations over the past 10 years, influenced by factors such as global demand and supply dynamics, geopolitical events, economic conditions, and policy decisions by major oil-producing countries. This article provides an overview of the price movements, starting from an average of $111 per barrel in 2011, declining to lows of negative prices in 2020, and recovering to around $66 per barrel in 2021. The complexities of the global oil market are

The 2025 annual OPEC basket price stood at ***** U.S. dollars per barrel as of August. 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.

Context

Data series employed in this study include 2197 daily observations of crude oil price, sustainability benchmark indices of the United States, and India for the period 2011-2019 daily. The crude oil prices (Brent crude in US dollars per barrel) are collected from the website of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (www.eia.gov). The Indian sustainability benchmark index is S&P BSE-Carbonex, and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), the US benchmark index for sustainability. The closing values of India and the US's sustainability indices are collected from the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and S&P Global websites. The S&P BSE Carbonex index is intended to provide equity investors an opportunity to mitigate the climate change-related risks connected to their investments in the long run. It is based on S&P BSE 100 weights compared to the companies' carbon performance (level of greenhouse gas emissions). DJSI-US, the United States' sustainability index, has 126 constituents and ensures the investment option in U.S securities that applies sustainability practices (BSE, 2014; S&P Global, 2021).

Acknowledgements

A, BHUVANESKUMAR (2021), “Dataset on crude oil prices and sustainability indices of the USA and India”, Mendeley Data, V1, doi: 10.17632/c29vkmx2y2.1

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.

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 current market price for a barrel of oil is approximately $73 for Brent Crude as of May 2021. This article discusses the factors influencing oil prices, including supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical tensions, macroeconomic conditions, and market speculation. It highlights the recovery in oil prices due to easing COVID-19 restrictions and production cuts by major oil-producing countries. It also mentions the impact of geopolitical tensions and market speculation on oil prices. The article emphasizes

Snapshot img

The crude oil market has the potential to grow by 4781.60 million barrels during 2021-2025, and the market’s growth momentum will decelerate at a CAGR of 2.73%.

This crude oil market research report provides valuable insights on the post COVID-19 impact on the market, which will help companies evaluate their business approaches. Furthermore, this report extensively covers market segmentation by production area (onshore and offshore) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America). The report also offers information on several market vendors, including BP Plc, Chevron Corp., and ConocoPhillips Co., among others.

What will the Crude Oil Market Size be in 2021?

Browse TOC and LoE with selected illustrations and example pages of Crude Oil Market

Get Your FREE Sample Now!

Crude Oil Market: Key Drivers and Trends

Based on our research output, there has been a negative impact on the market growth during and post COVID-19 era. The increasing upstream investment is notably driving the crude oil market growth, although factors such as fluctuations in global crude oil prices may impede market growth. To unlock information on the key market drivers and the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the crude oil industry get your FREE report sample now.

      The rising energy demand across the world has prompted governments to explore untapped oil and gas resources in the upstream sector, using advanced technologies.
      The production of oil and natural gas is declining from many conventional oilfields. To overcome this issue, oil and gas operators are increasing investments in mature oil and gas fields.
      The adoption of unconventional exploration and production technologies in large shale deposits has widened opportunities for upstream oil and gas companies.
      The growing investments in the upstream oil and gas sector will significantly influence crude oil market growth over the forecast period.




      Technological development in the hydraulic fracturing process is aiding in the exploration and production of oil and gas from shale plays.
      The advances in the drilling technology and proppant placement in downhole wells increased hydrocarbon recovery from unconventional wells.
      Technological advances such as integration of the internet of things (IoT) for data acquisition, as well as the use of data analytics and machine learning, supports the efficiency of tools that is one of the key crude oil market trends.
      Real-time pressure data is crucial in crude oil production as it eliminates the over-fracturing issue.
      Automation of hydraulic fracturing optimizes the hydraulic fracturing method using algorithmic controls and supports enhanced well performance.

This crude oil market analysis report also provides detailed information on other upcoming trends and challenges that will have a far-reaching effect on the market growth. Get detailed insights on the trends and challenges, which will help companies evaluate and develop growth strategies.

Who are the Major Crude Oil Market Vendors?

The report analyzes the market’s competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including:

BP Plc
Chevron Corp.
ConocoPhillips Co.
Exxon Mobil Corp.
PetroChina Co. Ltd.
Petroleo Brasileiro SA
Qatar Petroleum
Rosneft Oil Co.
Royal Dutch Shell Plc
Saudi Arabian Oil Co.

The crude oil market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. Click here to uncover other successful business strategies deployed by the vendors.

To make the most of the opportunities and recover from post COVID-19 impact, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Download a free sample of the crude oil market forecast report for insights on complete key vendor profiles. The profiles include information on the production, sustainability, and prospects of the leading companies.

Which are the Key Regions for Crude Oil Market?

For more insights on the market share of various regions Request for a FREE sample now!

44% of the market’s growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. China, India, and Japan are the key markets for crude oil in APAC. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in Europe, North America, and South America.

To garner further competitive intelligence and regional opportunities in store for vendors, view our sample report.

What are the Revenue-generating Production Area Segments in the Crude Oil Market?

To gain further insights on the market contribution of various segments Request for a FREE sample

The crude oil market share growth by the onshore segment will be significant during the forecast period. In onshore exploration and production operations

The price of Urals crude oil was recorded at 16.77 U.S. dollars per barrel below the benchmark Brent on September 20, 2023 (based on a rolling average of the past five days). The difference increased after a price cap on Russian oil was announced on December 2, 2022, and took effect on December 5, 2022, but it has been decreasing since end-March 2023. At the end of February 2022 and throughout March 2022, the discount rose significantly, reflecting the market reaction to the Russia-Ukraine war. In August 2023, the average price of Urals oil reached 74.5 U.S. dollars per barrel.

Russian oil price cap In December 2022, members of the G7, together with the European Union (EU) and Australia, limited the price of one barrel of Russian oil to 60 U.S. dollars in response to the war in Ukraine. The cap was planned to be reviewed every two months to reflect future market developments. The Russian government stated it would not supply oil to the countries imposing a price ceiling on its oil. While the effect of the ban on global oil prices is yet to be seen, it is expected that the ban would benefit other oil producing countries, as the EU would have to replace Russian supplies with other routes. Germany and Poland were the leading importers of Russian oil in the EU in 2021.

EU ban on Russian oil imports
The EU ban on Russian seaborne crude oil imports, announced in June 2022, took effect on December 5, 2022. Furthermore, refined petroleum products will be included from February 5, 2023. Even though the EU prohibited imports of Russian oil and refined products, it still allowed their transport to non-EU countries as long as they are purchased for 60 U.S. dollars per barrel or lower. As a result of the ban, Russia's oil production was forecast to decline to 438 million metric tons in 2022, down 10 percent from the previous year.

Slovenia SI: Crude Oil Imports: Average Price per Barrel data was reported at 0.000 USD/Barrel in Dec 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 USD/Barrel for Nov 2023. Slovenia SI: Crude Oil Imports: Average Price per Barrel data is updated monthly, averaging 0.000 USD/Barrel from Jan 2021 (Median) to Dec 2023, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.000 USD/Barrel in Dec 2023 and a record low of 0.000 USD/Barrel in Dec 2023. Slovenia SI: Crude Oil Imports: Average Price per Barrel data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Eurostat. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Slovenia – Table SI.Eurostat: Crude Oil Supply: by Energy Balance and Indicator.

UK oil and natural gas production is on long-term decline as old oil and gas fields in the North Sea mature and near the end of their life cycle. Oil and gas extracting companies 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 oil and gas from America flooded the market, slightly outpacing demand. Still, revenue is expected to expand at a compound annual rate of 5.1% over the five years through 2025-26 to £23 billion, owing primarily to the significant price hikes of 2021-22 and 2022-23. This includes a forecast dip of 4.3% in 2025-26, owing to oil and gas prices edging down. Profit is also slated to fall over the year. 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 was extended until March 2025. At the same time, 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 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 falling by 15.8% in the year to August 2025. Oil and gas prices are likely to continue inching downwards in the coming years. The UK government has implemented policies to create a more favourable environment for extractors in the North Sea to improve UK energy security. However, the depletion of natural resources, the high cost of extraction, low gas and oil prices and the global energy transition will threaten the industry's long-term viability. Revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 2% over the five years through 2030-31 to £25.4 billion, supported by two new major oil and gas fields, Jackdaw and Rosebank.

View monthly updates and historical trends for Olive Oil Price. Source: International Monetary Fund. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

Annual futures contract three price for Cushing Oklahoma crude oil stood at 67.3 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2021, an increase compared to the previous years. During the period in consideration, figures peaked at over 100 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2008.