Crude Oil Prices Drop from $79.12 in Dec 2023 to $74.72 in Dec 2024 Amid Market Volatility

  • Crude oil prices peaked at $93.12 in April, marking the highest point of the year before experiencing fluctuations in the following months.
  • A steady decline in the last quarter saw prices drop to $74.72 in December, the lowest recorded price of 2024.
  • The decline in prices from September onward raised concerns about potential revenue shortfalls, impacting government budgets and foreign exchange earnings.
  • Oil prices remained unstable throughout the year, with significant fluctuations driven by geopolitical factors, global demand shifts, and production adjustments.

The crude oil market experienced a turbulent 2024, following a sharp decline from the highs of late 2023. In September 2023, crude oil traded at $98.16, but by December 2023, prices had dropped to $79.12, signalling a downward trend that continued into 2024. The year began with $82.18 in January and saw fluctuations before peaking at $93.12 in April. A steady decline set in from September ($76.05) to December ($74.72), marking the year’s lowest price. The annual average stood at $82.57, reflecting overall volatility.

Source:

Central Bank of Nigeria

Period:

2024
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Click to copy HTML embed code
Tags
Related Insights
Africa's crude oil producers: Only 4 countries ever made it past 1 million barrels a day since 1965
  • Only 4 African countries ever crossed 1 million b/d:   Libya, Nigeria, Algeria, and Angola.
  • Libya was Africa’s top producer in the 1970s and 2000s. At its peak, Libya did over 3 million b/d. No other African country has touched that.
  • Nigeria peaked in 2005 with 2.5 million b/d. But since then, it’s been unstable due to theft and pipeline issues.
  • Angola and Algeria have stayed around or above 1 million b/d for long periods, especially post-2000.
  • Despite oil discoveries, most African countries never got close to 1 million b/d: countries like Chad, Sudan, and Gabon, while some peaked under 500k.
After the drop in 2020 due to COVID-19, Oando Plc's profit before tax has surpassed pre-COVID-19 levels
Key Takeaways:
  • Despite recent gains, Oando Plc's earnings before tax have declined by 222% over the past decade.
  • Major losses occurred in 2019 and 2020, with a rebound in 2021 and 2023.
  • The company demonstrated remarkable resilience by recovering to ₦103 billion profit in 2023.
  • The earnings before tax in 2024 fell by 54% from 2023.
  • The year-on-year growth rate from 2015 to 2024 was shown to be negative despite recording ₦47.8 billion in 2024, as against -₦39.1 billion in 2015.
In 50+ years of oil production, the top spot has rotated among only 4 countries
  • Only 4 countries have ever topped global oil production since 1973: the US, USSR, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.
  • The USSR and Saudi Arabia each led for 17 years, while Russia held 9 and the U.S. reclaimed the top with 8 years, mostly after the shale boom.
  • Top producers have peaked at 9–12 million barrels/day, but the US once dropped as low as 5 million in the 2000s.
  • Nigeria peaked at 2.5 million barrels/day in 2005 and 2011, but never reached the top five.
  • Global crude oil production grew by over 26 million barrels per day between 1973 and 2023—an increase of nearly 47% over 50 years.
Oando Plc achieved a revenue increase of 412% between 2021 and 2024, while profits declined by 181% from 2022 to 2024, despite a positive profit after tax in 2024
Key takeaways:
  • Despite a profit after tax record of ₦65.5 billion in 2024, Oando Plc recorded a negative growth rate from 2015.
  • The company faced significant profit losses for several years, with notable improvements in 2021 and 2024.
  • Profit after tax fluctuated, with a notable improvement in 2024, reaching ₦65.49 million.
  • The year-on-year growth rate of 148% in 2022 indicates great market positioning.
  • From ₦477.1 billion in 2020 to ₦4.1 trillion in 2024, Oando Plc's revenues increased by 764%.
Seplat Energy's revenue surged by 137%, with profits increasing by 163% in 2024 compared to 2023
Key takeaways:
  • Seplat’s revenue steadily increased from ₦112.97 billion in 2015 to ₦1.65 trillion in 2024.
  • The difference between revenue and profit after tax in 2024 is notably broader than in previous years.
  • Profitability varied over the years, with losses recorded in 2016 and 2020 but consistent recoveries during other periods.
  • The year 2024 saw the company's peak revenue (₦1.65 trillion) and profit (₦214.25 billion).
Nigeria’s largest refinery took over a decade and $20 billion to begin operations
  • Dangote first announced the refinery in 2013 with a $9 billion plan, securing $3.3 billion in funding.
  • The estimated cost grew to $15 billion in 2017, as planned refining capacity increased to 650,000 barrels per day.
  • By 2023, the refinery was finally commissioned, after its total cost surged past $20 billion.
  • In December 2023, the first crude supply of 1 million barrels arrived, marking the start of operations.
  • By 2024, the refinery began producing diesel and jet fuel, with 6 million barrels received for processing.
POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form
A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved