This is a book about the international oil market. It takes a historical perspective on how the market emerged, developed, and became what it is today-the biggest commodity market in the world. It is mature and complex, but far from perfect. Throughout most of its 150-year history, the oil market has been monopolised by companies and governments. For only a fraction of that, oil traded in a relatively free market. As a result, we had to live with 'big oil', economic shocks, high oil prices, instability and wars. Using a simple concept of market power, this book will explain the meaning of 'oil price' and how it is established while offering a valuable lesson for other commodities. Market power is the key to understanding the 'price of oil'. This book uses a simple concept of price-makers and price-takers to examine the evolution of oil markets, their structure, and prices. The early decades of the oil industry were competitive with low barriers to entry. Barely 25 years later, the Standard Oil company created a refining monopoly, buying oil at its own 'posted' price. In the following century, the cartel of major oil companies, helped by their governments, did the same at the international level. OPEC helped producing governments regain control of their own resources, but the organisation was never able to retain a similar level of control. After 1986 price collapse, OPEC abdicated the price-making function in favour of the market. While it never gave up attempts to influence prices, OPEC had to link their official prices to one of the global oil benchmarks. Modern international oil markets function because of oil benchmarks such as Brent, WTI and Dubai. This book showcases: * How oil traders played a prominent role in development of the industry * How policies of consuming nations helped oil cartels * Why and how the US price of oil was negative * How AI has changed the way markets operate and the way in which the markets are likely to change in future This book explores how oil markets grew, functioned, and have occasionally failed to do their job. The ecosystem of derivatives or 'paper barrels' trading in far greater volume than physical oil plays a very important role in mitigating risk. With this core tenant, setting the 'price of oil' is explained in detail.

In 2023, the Brent oil benchmark, a key international oil price marker for global crude oil underwent a substantial change. It incorporated another key benchmark, West Texas Intermediate oil from Midland, produced in the US and sold into European and Asian markets. Brent is used to set prices for over 70 per cent of global crude oil, so this fundamental change in the composition of the benchmarks is making some observers question its future development and even its survival. Lessons from the past are very important for the future, particularly in this case. This book revisits the history and genesis of the Brent oil benchmark and how it came to dominate the global oil market for oil. With chapters written by the individuals involved in trading and shaping the market, it brings the richness and texture to the usual historical narrative by recalling the events, companies and people who shaped its history. It introduces the historical background to the international oil markets and the reasons for a move from OPEC-set prices to oil benchmarks. It discusses the role of the North Sea in the international oil markets, as well as the role of the British government in the British national oil and gas monopoly (British National Oil Corporation or BNOC). The development of the North Sea oil, which coincided with the liberalisation policies in the UK and US, is also discussed, alongside the challenges of the oil exchange (International Petroleum Exchange) in London, the home of Brent and looks at the failures, attempted takeovers, and its eventual sale to the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). It finally discusses the growing market ecosystem of the price reporting agencies (PRAs), which play a key role in establishing the value of the Brent benchmark.

This is a book about the international oil market. It takes a historical perspective on how the market emerged, developed, and became what it is today-the biggest commodity market in the world. It is mature and complex, but far from perfect. Throughout most of its 150-year history, the oil market has been monopolised by companies and governments. For only a fraction of that, oil traded in a relatively free market. As a result, we had to live with 'big oil', economic shocks, high oil prices, instability and wars. Using a simple concept of market power, this book will explain the meaning of 'oil price' and how it is established while offering a valuable lesson for other commodities. Market power is the key to understanding the 'price of oil'. This book uses a simple concept of price-makers and price-takers to examine the evolution of oil markets, their structure, and prices. The early decades of the oil industry were competitive with low barriers to entry. Barely 25 years later, the Standard Oil company created a refining monopoly, buying oil at its own 'posted' price. In the following century, the cartel of major oil companies, helped by their governments, did the same at the international level. OPEC helped producing governments regain control of their own resources, but the organisation was never able to retain a similar level of control. After 1986 price collapse, OPEC abdicated the price-making function in favour of the market. While it never gave up attempts to influence prices, OPEC had to link their official prices to one of the global oil benchmarks. Modern international oil markets function because of oil benchmarks such as Brent, WTI and Dubai. This book showcases: * How oil traders played a prominent role in development of the industry * How policies of consuming nations helped oil cartels * Why and how the US price of oil was negative * How AI has changed the way markets operate and the way in which the markets are likely to change in future This book explores how oil markets grew, functioned, and have occasionally failed to do their job. The ecosystem of derivatives or 'paper barrels' trading in far greater volume than physical oil plays a very important role in mitigating risk. With this core tenant, setting the 'price of oil' is explained in detail.