Dated Brent gets another makeover
The world’s most important Fob oil benchmark will get a new Cif element from October
Dated Brent is without doubt the most influential and iconic oil benchmark price. But, since 2002, its name has been misleading, as a decline in production from the Brent system has seen other grades added, initially Forties and Oseberg in 2002, followed by Ekofisk in 2007 and Troll in 2017. The Brent market has also become more complex, as the arrival of the Buzzard field—with substantial quality difference to the rest of the Dated Brent fields—into the Forties system in 2007 required a sulphur de-escalator to be introduced. Quality premia for Ekofisk and Oseberg were introduced in 2013 and revised in 2014, while a Troll premium will be added in April this year. The window length has also c
Also in this section
5 December 2025
Mistaken assumptions around an oil bull run that never happened are a warning over the talk of a supply glut
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
