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In April 2012, the prices of the imported commodities folded

Price of oil and imported raw materials – April 2012

In April, the price of oil in dollars has declined (-3.1% after +5.3% in March). It stood at $120.7 per barrel Brent. Similarly, the prices in foreign currency of non-energy commodities imported into France were down (-1.3% after +0.5% in March).

The prices of oil in dollars declined

In April, the dollar price of oil from the North Sea (Brent) fell (-3.1% after +5.3% in March). In euros, the decline in oil prices has been slightly less marked (-2.7 % after +5.5 %), due to the depreciation of the euro against the dollar (-0.4%). This decline comes after a sustained and continuing rise in oil prices since January.

The lower prices of industrial raw material were increasing

In April, the prices of industrial raw materials in foreign currencies continued to fall (-2.0% after –0.7% in March). On the one hand, the decline in the prices of mineral raw materials has increased (-2.6% after –1.6%). The prices of nonferrous metals declined sharply (-4.0% after –1.8%), including those of aluminium (-6.3%), nickel (-4.3%) and copper (-2.3%). Meanwhile, the prices of precious metals fell again (-2.9% after –3.2%), mainly those of gold (-1.4%) and silver (-4.3%).

On the other hand, the prices of agro-industrial raw materials fell slightly (-0.2% after +2.1%), due to the lower prices of nature rubber (-1.8%), and the prices of natural textile fibers (-0.3%), includind wool (-5.7%). The prices of sawn wood of conifers have them stabilized (+0.0% after +6.3%), while those of wood pulp have appreciated slightly (+0.3% after +0.0%).

The prices of raw food materials stabilized

In April, the prices of raw food materials in foreign currencies stagnated (+0.0% after +2.8% in March). Indeed, the cereals prices have stabilized (+0.1% after +4.1%), due to the slowdown in rice prices (+1.5% after +5.4%) and lower corn prices (-2.6%). Meanwhile, the tropical foodstuffs prices continued to fall (-3.5% after -2.1%), including cocoa (-4.6%) and arabica (-4.%)

The prices of sugar (-7.1%) and beef meat (-4.2%) also fell. In contrast, the prices of oilseeds continuied to grow, albeit at a lower pace than in March (+5.8% after +7.4%). This is particularly the case of soybean meal (+7.7% after +10.8%) and palm oil (+4.9% after +5.3%).

Oil

Oil

Source: INSEE

Food

Food

Source: INSEE

All commodities

All commodities

Source: INSEE

Industrial raw materials

Industrial raw materials

Source: INSEE

Oil and petroleum products
in dollar
Prices are in dollars per tonne unless otherwise specified
Source: INSEE
Prices Change (%)
of last month over the last month over the last 3 months over the last 12 months
Brent in $ per barrel 120.7 –3.1 8.2 –2.4
Brent in € per barrel 91.7 –2.7 6.0 7.2
Gasoline 1164.3 0.6 19.4 2.1
Gas Oil 1004.8 –2.0 5.7 –1.8
Heavy fuel 678.8 –2.5 3.5 7.5
Naphta 1035.2 –2.9 9.5 –1.8
Imported raw materials (excluding energy)
base 100 in 2000
Source: INSEE
Index Changes (%)
over the last month over the last 3 months over the last 12 months
Food total 233.4 0.0 5.4 –6.3
Tropical foodstuff 225.0 –3.5 –5.6 –25.4
Oil seeds, vegetable oils 234.8 5.8 18.1 7.7
Cereals 300.7 0.1 5.6 1.4
Sugar 282.1 –7.1 –4.4 –9.6
Beef meat 166.7 –4.2 2.0 –1.0
Industrial raw materials 231.4 –2.0 0.2 –17.7
Agricultural raw materials 148,0 –0.2 4.2 –13.2
Natural Fibers 207.0 –0.3 –1.3 –49.3
Natural rubber 452.3 –1.8 4.2 –25.1
Hides 105.3 1.1 17.2 –4.4
Wood pulp 124.0 0.3 0.0 –15.2
Tropical wood 149.6 1.1 2.2 –5.3
Sawn softwood 109.0 0.0 10.7 6.7
Minerals 276.0 –2.6 –1.1 –19.2
Iron ore 502.7 3.1 3.1 –19.3
Non-ferrous metals 240.9 –4.0 –2.4 –20.3
Precious metals 427.5 –2.9 1.3 –9.4
All commodities 225.9 –1.3 2.0 –14.0

Informations Rapides

n°  - December 30, 1899

Prices of oil and raw material imports - April 2012

Next issue July 12th 2013 - June 2013

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