WTI crude oil prices opened steady during the European trading session.

According to the latest market dynamics, at the beginning of the European trading session on September 5, 2025, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil remained stable. As of 6:10 AM today, the price of WTI crude oil is $63.06 per barrel, unchanged from the previous trading day's Closing Price.

During the same period, the price of Brent crude oil in the North Sea slightly increased, rising from yesterday's $66.70 to $66.71 per barrel.

In-Depth Understanding of WTI Crude Oil

Characteristics and Position of WTI Crude Oil

WTI crude oil, officially known as West Texas Intermediate crude oil, is one of the important varieties in the international crude oil market. It is ranked alongside Brent crude oil and Dubai crude oil as one of the three major benchmark crude oils in the world. WTI is referred to as "light sweet crude oil" due to its low density and low sulfur content, which make it easy to refine and of high quality.

WTI crude oil is primarily produced in the United States and distributed through the Cushing Hub, known as the "global pipeline hub." As an important indicator of the oil market, the price trend of WTI is closely monitored and widely reported by major media.

Key Factors Affecting WTI Crude Oil Prices

WTI crude oil prices are influenced by multiple factors, mainly including:

1. Supply and Demand Relationship: The state of global economic growth directly affects the demand for crude oil, which in turn affects prices.
2. Geopolitics: Factors such as political instability, war conflicts, or economic sanctions may disrupt supply and cause price fluctuations.
3. OPEC Decisions: The production policies of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have a significant impact on oil prices.
4. USD Exchange Rate: Since crude oil is primarily priced in USD, the trend of the USD will affect WTI prices.

The impact of inventory data on WTI crude oil prices

The weekly crude oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Administration (EIA) are important factors affecting WTI prices. These data reflect changes in market supply and demand:

• A decrease in inventory usually indicates an increase in demand, which may drive up oil prices.
• An increase in inventory may indicate an oversupply, leading to a decrease in prices.

API reports are usually released on Tuesdays, while EIA reports are published on Wednesdays. The results of the two reports are often quite close, with discrepancies within 1% approximately 75% of the time. Since EIA is a government agency, its data is generally considered to be more authoritative.

OPEC+'s influence on WTI crude oil prices

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is composed of 12 major oil-producing countries and holds two meetings each year to jointly negotiate the crude oil production quotas of its member countries. OPEC's decisions have a significant impact on WTI crude oil prices:

• Production cuts may lead to tighter supply, driving up oil prices.
• An increase in production may lead to a price drop.

It is worth noting that "OPEC+" refers to the expanded organization, which includes 10 non-OPEC member countries, the most notable of which is Russia. The decisions made by this expanded alliance have a more far-reaching impact on global oil prices.

Risk Warning: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice. Investors should recognize that past performance does not guarantee future returns, and the market is constantly changing, so please make decisions with caution.