Crude Oil Price Today, Brent & WTI Live, Forecasts 2025–2040 - InvestingCube

Crude oil is essential to the global economy. It affects inflation, energy costs, and investment decisions across markets. Traders and investors pay close attention to daily price movements in Brent and WTI crude oil to gauge economic health and anticipate market trends.

This report gives a real-time view of today’s crude oil prices, long-term forecasts through 2040, and highlights the key factors shaping the energy market’s future.

Crude Oil Price Today & Live Feed (Brent vs WTI)

As of the latest update, oil prices fell by 0.22%. This marks the fourth consecutive day of losses. Investors are considering the effect of U.S. sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil producers and a possible OPEC+ move to increase output.

• Brent Crude Oil Price: Hovering near $63.69 per barrel, representing the global benchmark traded in London.
• WTI Crude Oil Price: Trading around $59.96 per barrel, the key U.S. benchmark is driven by domestic supply and refinery demand.

The price difference between Brent and WTI often shows regional supply issues, logistics costs, and geopolitical influences. When the spread widens, it signals stronger international demand or transport bottlenecks; when it narrows, it signals increased U.S. supply or easing global constraints.

In early trading, Crude prices stay supported by expectations of steady OPEC+ output levels and hope for a recovery in global energy demand by 2025. However, short-term volatility continues as traders consider slower economic growth against supply disruptions and inventory levels.

Crude Oil Price Chart | Short and Long-Term Trends

Crude oil prices have continued to drop as markets react to several global events. The recent decline reflects that investors are worried about U.S. sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies. Moreover, the uncertainty about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of India for continuing to buy Russian oil. Additionally, the growing speculation that OPEC+ may consider a new output hike in its upcoming meeting.

In the short term, these geopolitical and supply-side pressures are amplifying price volatility, with Brent and WTI fluctuating as traders reassess global demand and production risks.

In the long term, however, the broader crude oil trend is influenced by fundamental factors such as supply discipline, gradual recovery in global demand, and energy transition policies. While sanctions, political tensions, and OPEC+ decisions create immediate market reactions, the general outlook points to a cautious, range-bound pattern for Brent and WTI as investors are balancing economic growth expectations and future production strategies.

Crude Oil Futures Price and Term Structure (WTI, Brent, NYMEX)

Crude oil futures on the NYMEX and ICE exchanges have a mixed pattern as traders balance near-term supply concerns with long-term demand uncertainty. The front-month WTI and Brent contracts have recently weakened amid expectations that OPEC+ could raise output, which has eased fears of tight supply. Meanwhile, U.S. sanctions on Russian energy firms are creating uneven flows in global crude trade, which adds pressure on refining margins and shipment costs.

The future term structure currently signals a mild contango, where longer-dated contracts trade slightly above near-term ones. This reflects market anticipation of steady demand recovery, but plenty of supply, as the U.S., Middle East, and non-OPEC producers maintain robust output.

Traders are closely monitoring shifts in this curve; a move back into backwardation would indicate renewed fears of supply shortages or stronger economic recovery signals.

Crude Oil Price Forecast 2025

By 2025, crude oil prices are expected to stabilize within a moderate range as markets adapt to new geopolitical and production realities. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that Brent crude is expected to average around $66 per barrel in 2025, reflecting weaker demand and rising global inventory.

Meanwhile, the WTI crude oil benchmark is projected to average about $63.88 per barrel in 2025 according to the EIA’s latest forecasts. The EIA attributes the downward pressure on prices to a combination of rising supply, inventory builds, and slower demand growth across global markets.

The U.S. sanctions on Russia and the potential OPEC+ production hikes are key short-term headwinds that could cap gains. However, any escalation in supply disruptions or renewed Middle East tensions could lift oil prices above the forecasted range.

Crude Oil Price Forecast 2030

Looking ahead to 2030, long-term projections vary; some suggest that crude oil prices may trade in a broader range between $90 and $110 per barrel for Brent, supported by sustained energy demand in developing economies and tightening investment in new exploration projects.

While some major institutions like the EIA and World Bank are leaning toward around $73 per barrel. This outlook reflects several structural headwinds: a potential stabilization in global demand as EV adoption accelerates, shifting consumption in China, and expanding production from non-OPEC sources.

However, this range is not without conditions. Oil prices could dip lower if the energy transition gains momentum faster than expected, or spike dramatically if geopolitical stressors emerge or EV rollout slows.

The chart highlights how different organizations expect oil demand to evolve. Forecasts vary widely depending on economic growth, policy, and energy transition assumptions.

• OPEC and Standard Chartered expect oil demand to keep rising through 2035.
• IEA projects demand to peak around 2028, then slightly decline.
• Under the IEA’s Net Zero scenario, 2030 demand drops sharply to 83.7 mb/d, the lowest forecast.
• EIA scenarios range from high growth to low growth, showing different demand paths based on global conditions.

Crude Oil Price Forecast 2040 & Long Term Scenarios

Looking toward 2040, crude oil markets are expected to undergo structural shifts shaped by energy transition policies, global supply dynamics, and evolving demand patterns. While short-term price movements often react to geopolitical shocks or OPEC+ decisions, the long-term outlook depends on how quickly the world moves toward decarbonization and how producers adapt to new consumption trends.

Recent research by McKinsey highlights several potential long-term scenarios for oil demand and pricing, outlining how equilibrium levels, investment requirements, and production strategies could evolve over the next 15 years.

1. Equilibrium Price Range (OPEC-control scenario): McKinsey projects long-term equilibrium oil prices in a range of USD 50 to 60 per barrel under conditions where OPEC maintains significant market influence.
2. Reduced Price Outlook vs Pre-COVID: The firm notes that their long-term price expectations are USD 10-15 lower per barrel compared to pre-COVID forecasts, due to a flattening cost curve and weaker demand growth assumptions.
3. In nominal terms, McKinsey projects Crude oil price expectations to roughly US$90-$100 per barrel by 2040, given inflation and other market factors.

This McKinsey & Company chart shows that global oil demand is projected to gradually decline through 2040, mainly due to reduced consumption in the road transport sector as electric vehicles expand. However, demand from the chemicals and aviation sectors is expected to continue growing moderately.

Under these trends, global oil demand could fall from about 100 million barrels per day in 2022 to roughly 83-89 Mb/d by 2040. Despite this slowdown, McKinsey forecasts oil prices to stabilize around $60-70 per barrel by 2040, supported by production costs, supply adjustments, and continued industrial demand.

Crude Oil Investment Strategy for 2025-2030

Investors must balance short-term opportunities driven by supply disruptions and geopolitical risks with the long-term trend toward renewable energy and declining fossil fuel dependence.

Key Investment Strategies:

• Diversify Across Energy Assets: diversify your investment for crude oil exposure, combine WTI, Brent futures, or ETFs with renewable energy equities or green funds to hedge against the global transition toward cleaner energy.
• Focus on short-term opportunities, short-term spikes in oil prices, often driven by OPEC+ output decisions or geopolitical tensions, can offer tactical trading opportunities.
• Use futures and options for Hedging: Institutional and retail investors can manage risk through WTI and Brent Futures contracts or oil-linked options strategies.

Key Drivers Behind Crude Oil Price Movements

Factor to Watch	What you should consider as an Investor
Geopolitical Tensions & OPEC+ Policy	You have to closely monitor conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, as well as sanctions on Russian oil: these factors can quickly tighten supply and lift prices. OPEC+ decisions on production cuts or output hikes will remain a major short-term driver through the decade.
Supply Growth & U.S. Shale Output	Keep an eye on the U.S., Canada, and Brazil, as they lead new supply growth. According to the EIA, global output could exceed demand if OPEC+ gradually removes its supply cuts in late 2025, a potential signal for softer prices
Demand Trends & Energy Transition	You should track how emerging economies like India sustain demand, while developed markets see declines. The rise of electric vehicles and renewables will likely slow long-term oil consumption and limit price growth after 2030.
Economic Growth & Trade Policy	Watch for major global economic data and post-election U.S. trade decisions. New tariffs or weaker global trade could drag on demand, while stronger growth in Asia could lift prices.
Technology & Efficiency	Keep in mind that advances in drilling, automation, and shale efficiency continue to lower production costs. These innovations may cap price rallies even when demand improves.