WTI and Brent Crude Oil Prices: Latest Market Trends and Insights

Today’s Oil Prices

As of 9 a.m. ET, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures are trading at $71.08 per barrel, reflecting an increase of 0.85%. Year-to-date, WTI prices have decreased by 3.21%.

Brent crude futures are priced at $75.01 per barrel, up 0.64% in the last 24 hours, with a year-to-date decline of 5.12%.

Overview of WTI Crude Oil Prices

• Current Price: $71.08
• 24-Hour Change: +0.85%
• Year-to-Date Change: -3.21%

Over the past three years, WTI prices have fallen by 16.91%. The price hit a 52-week low of $64.78 on September 10, 2024, and reached a 52-week high of $87.85 on April 5, 2024, indicating a 19.09% difference from current levels.

Overview of Brent Crude Oil Prices

• Current Price: $75.01
• 24-Hour Change: +0.64%
• Year-to-Date Change: -5.12%

Brent crude also reached a 52-week low of $68.33 on September 11, 2024, and a 52-week high of $92.58 on April 12, 2024, marking an 18.98% difference from current levels.

What is Crude Oil?

Crude oil is a vital commodity globally, serving as an essential energy source and a raw material for producing plastics, chemicals, and more. Most crude oil produced or imported into the U.S. is refined into petroleum products like gasoline and diesel.

Factors Influencing Oil Prices:

• Weather Conditions: Severe weather can increase demand for heating oil and natural gas, driving prices higher.
• Natural Disasters and Geopolitical Issues: Events can disrupt oil production, leading to supply shortages.
• Economic Conditions: Demand for industrial energy rises during economic growth and falls during downturns.
• OPEC Decisions: The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) can significantly impact global oil supply through production adjustments.

Differences Between WTI and Brent Crude

West Texas Intermediate (WTI):

• Sourced from U.S. oilfields in Texas, North Dakota, and Louisiana.
• Known for its lightness, with an API gravity of 39.6 degrees and low sulfur content (0.24%).
• Serves as the primary benchmark for U.S. oil prices.

Brent Crude:

• Extracted from the North Sea near Europe, composed of oil from multiple fields including Brent and Ekofisk.
• Slightly heavier with an API gravity of 38 degrees and a sulfur content of 0.4%.
• Used as a benchmark for international oil markets, especially in Europe and Africa.

The Brent-WTI Spread

The difference between Brent and WTI prices is referred to as the Brent-WTI spread. Historically, this spread has ranged from $4 to $8 per barrel, but it can vary based on supply and demand dynamics. For example, the spread peaked at nearly $14 per barrel in April 2011 during market fears of significant supply disruptions.

Understanding Oil Futures

Futures contracts are a popular method for investors to speculate on crude oil prices. These contracts are agreements to buy or sell a specific amount of oil at a predetermined price on a future date.

• WTI Crude Futures: Traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), each contract represents 1,000 barrels of oil. Trading occurs from Sunday to Friday, 6 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
• Brent Crude Futures: Primarily traded on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and can also be traded on the CME Globex platform. Trading hours are the same as WTI on CME, but on ICE, they are from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET on business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Saudi oil Brent or WTI?
Saudi Arabian oil is neither WTI nor Brent. The state-owned company, Saudi Aramco, uses the Dubai/Oman crude oil benchmark to price its oil for delivery to Asia.