歐佩克參考籃子在12月份小幅下跌，收于$ 106.55 / b。 按年度計算，2012年該籃子的平均價格為109.45美元/桶，比上年增長1.99美元。 在原油期貨市場中，近月WTI合約在12月上漲，但仍受美國頁巖油產(chǎn)量上升打壓，這是2009年以來的首次年度虧損。 盡管ICEBrent在12月略有下滑，但2012年卻進一步增加。北海的停運，地緣政治因素以及ICE Brent合約交易量的增加都為布倫特原油價格提供了支撐。 ICE 12月合約增加了64,787手，至289,004手，增長近30％。 在這一年中，ICE布倫特市場的投機活動和交易量分別增長了70％和12％，而Nymex WTI則下降了10％和19％。

The OPEC Reference Basket fell marginally in December to settle at $106.55/b. In yearly terms,the Basket averaged $109.45/b in 2012, a gain of $1.99 over the previous year. In the crude futuresmarkets, the front-month WTI contract rose in December but still registered its first annual loss since2009, weighed down by rising US shale oil production. Despite slipping marginally in December, ICEBrent saw a further increase in 2012. Outages in the North Sea, geopolitical considerations, andincreased trading volumes in the ICE Brent contract have all provided support for the Brent price.Money managed increased net long positions on the Nymex and ICE in December by64,787 contracts to 289,004 lots, a gain of almost 30%. For the year, speculative activities andtrading volumes in the ICE Brent market jumped 70% and 12% respectively, compared to a declineof 10% and 19% for Nymex WTI.