Insee
Informations Rapides · 23 June 2023 · n° 158
Informations rapidesIn May 2023, oil and imported commodity prices fell Prices of oil and raw material imports - May 2023

In May 2023, the price of oil in euros fell back (‑9.9% after +5.3% in April). Prices in euros of imported raw materials (excluding energy) declined again (‑2.7% after ‑1.6%), due to a further drop in those of industrial materials (‑5.4% after ‑4.6%). Food commodity prices decreased slightly (‑0.4% after +1.2%).

Informations rapides
No 158
Paru le :Paru le23/06/2023
Prochaine parution le : 20/06/2025 at 12:00 - May 2025
Warning

Following the termination in May 2023 of Chicago Mercantile Exchange's diffusion of lumber futures benchmark and its replacement by a new series starting in August 2022, the monitoring of sawn softwood prices has been modified with effect from the present publication. In addition to the revision of the corresponding index, this also leads to slight revisions of the aggregate indices, including that for prices of agro-industrial raw materials, over the recent period (August 2022 – April 2023). Details of the sources now used can be found in the methodological note associated with this publication.

In May 2023, the price of oil in euros fell back (‑9.9% after +5.3% in April). Prices in euros of imported raw materials (excluding energy) declined again (‑2.7% after ‑1.6%), due to a further drop in those of industrial materials (‑5.4% after ‑4.6%). Food commodity prices decreased slightly (‑0.4% after +1.2%).

Imported raw materials (excluding energy)

index 2010=100
Imported raw materials (excluding energy) (index 2010=100)
Prices in foreign currencies Prices in euros
2023-05 125.4 150.7
2023-04 129.9 154.9
2023-03 129.0 157.5
2023-02 130.8 159.6
2023-01 129.7 157.5
2022-12 125.3 154.7
2022-11 121.1 155.1
2022-10 121.6 161.6
2022-09 123.9 163.4
2022-08 131.0 169.0
2022-07 131.4 168.8
2022-06 140.7 174.2
2022-05 143.9 178.0
2022-04 152.7 184.8
2022-03 152.9 181.8
2022-02 142.3 164.4
2022-01 137.3 159.0
2021-12 131.8 152.7
2021-11 126.1 144.7
2021-10 129.6 146.3
2021-09 127.1 141.4
2021-08 130.2 144.9
2021-07 132.4 146.7
2021-06 133.5 145.1
2021-05 135.7 146.4
2021-04 127.5 139.6
2021-03 120.3 132.5
2021-02 117.0 126.7
2021-01 113.8 122.5
2020-12 110.4 118.7
2020-11 102.2 113.0
2020-10 98.7 109.7
2020-09 99.0 109.7
2020-08 96.7 106.8
2020-07 90.8 103.5
2020-06 88.2 102.3
2020-05 87.3 104.7
2020-04 83.6 100.5
2020-03 87.1 102.8
2020-02 90.1 107.9
2020-01 92.8 109.2
2019-12 91.7 107.9
2019-11 89.1 105.3
2019-10 88.2 104.3
2019-09 88.9 105.4
2019-08 89.3 104.8
2019-07 95.3 111.1
2019-06 93.6 108.3
2019-05 91.8 107.2
2019-04 93.2 108.4
2019-03 91.0 105.2
2019-02 91.6 105.5
2019-01 88.8 101.6
2018-12 87.0 99.8
2018-11 88.9 102.1
2018-10 90.1 102.5
2018-09 87.0 97.5
2018-08 88.6 100.2
2018-07 91.3 102.2
2018-06 95.6 107.3
2018-05 96.2 106.7
2018-04 95.0 101.5
2018-03 95.0 101.0
2018-02 95.9 101.8
2018-01 94.5 101.6
2017-12 91.7 101.4
2017-11 91.9 102.5
2017-10 91.2 101.5
2017-09 92.9 102.1
2017-08 94.1 104.3
2017-07 92.6 105.2
2017-06 89.7 104.4
2017-05 89.9 106.3
2017-04 90.9 110.7
2017-03 95.5 116.8
2017-02 96.0 117.8
2017-01 93.2 114.7
2016-12 90.9 112.6
2016-11 89.6 108.5
2016-10 84.4 100.1
2016-09 83.6 97.6
2016-08 84.7 98.8
2016-07 85.1 100.6
2016-06 82.9 96.7
2016-05 80.8 93.6
2016-04 81.0 93.6
2016-03 78.2 92.2
2016-02 74.8 88.3
2016-01 72.9 87.9
2015-12 73.6 88.4
2015-11 74.9 91.2
2015-10 78.1 91.1
2015-09 78.9 92.2
2015-08 80.0 94.1
2015-07 81.4 97.2
2015-06 84.4 98.9
2015-05 85.0 100.0
2015-04 83.6 101.8
2015-03 84.6 102.4
2015-02 87.0 100.9
2015-01 90.0 102.0
2014-12 93.5 100.5
2014-11 96.0 102.0
2014-10 96.6 101.3
2014-09 98.4 101.4
2014-08 102.0 102.0
2014-07 103.1 101.6
2014-06 101.4 99.5
2014-05 103.5 100.7
2014-04 106.9 103.5
2014-03 105.2 101.7
2014-02 103.6 101.3
2014-01 103.0 101.1
2013-12 103.8 101.4
2013-11 100.9 99.8
2013-10 100.4 98.3
2013-09 100.0 99.8
2013-08 102.6 102.7
2013-07 102.2 103.9
2013-06 100.4 101.3
2013-05 102.6 105.1
2013-04 103.8 105.9
2013-03 104.9 107.5
2013-02 107.8 107.5
2013-01 106.6 106.8

Imported raw materials (excluding energy)

  • Source: INSEE

Oil prices sharply retreated

In May 2023, the price of North Sea crude oil (Brent) in dollars fell sharply (‑10.8% after +8.0% in April), averaging $75.6 per barrel. In euros, the drop in the price per barrel was within the same order of magnitude (‑9.9% after +5.3%).

Oil (Brent)

price per barrel
Oil (Brent) (price per barrel)
Prices in dollars Prices in euros
2023-05 75.6 69.6
2023-04 84.7 77.2
2023-03 78.4 73.3
2023-02 82.8 77.3
2023-01 82.5 76.6
2022-12 81.0 76.5
2022-11 91.4 89.7
2022-10 93.3 95.0
2022-09 89.7 90.6
2022-08 100.6 99.4
2022-07 111.9 109.9
2022-06 122.0 115.5
2022-05 113.1 106.9
2022-04 104.9 96.7
2022-03 117.2 106.4
2022-02 96.8 85.4
2022-01 86.5 76.5
2021-12 74.4 65.8
2021-11 81.0 71.0
2021-10 83.5 72.0
2021-09 74.5 63.3
2021-08 70.9 60.2
2021-07 75.1 63.5
2021-06 73.2 60.8
2021-05 68.5 56.4
2021-04 64.8 54.1
2021-03 65.4 55.0
2021-02 62.3 51.5
2021-01 54.8 45.0
2020-12 50.0 41.1
2020-11 42.7 36.1
2020-10 40.2 34.1
2020-09 40.9 34.7
2020-08 44.8 37.8
2020-07 43.2 37.7
2020-06 40.3 35.8
2020-05 29.4 27.5
2020-04 18.5 16.9
2020-03 31.9 28.8
2020-02 55.7 51.1
2020-01 63.6 57.3
2019-12 67.2 60.4
2019-11 63.2 57.2
2019-10 59.7 54.0
2019-09 62.8 57.1
2019-08 59.0 53.1
2019-07 63.9 57.0
2019-06 64.3 56.9
2019-05 71.2 63.6
2019-04 71.2 63.4
2019-03 66.1 58.5
2019-02 64.0 56.4
2019-01 59.4 52.0
2018-12 56.5 49.8
2018-11 64.7 57.0
2018-10 81.0 70.6
2018-09 78.9 67.7
2018-08 72.5 62.8
2018-07 74.3 63.5
2018-06 74.4 63.7
2018-05 76.9 65.2
2018-04 72.0 58.7
2018-03 66.0 53.5
2018-02 65.3 52.9
2018-01 69.1 56.6
2017-12 64.4 54.4
2017-11 62.7 53.4
2017-10 57.5 48.9
2017-09 55.5 46.6
2017-08 51.9 44.0
2017-07 49.1 42.6
2017-06 47.6 42.4
2017-05 51.4 46.5
2017-04 53.8 50.1
2017-03 52.6 49.2
2017-02 56.0 52.6
2017-01 55.4 52.2
2016-12 54.9 52.1
2016-11 47.1 43.7
2016-10 51.4 46.6
2016-09 47.7 42.5
2016-08 46.8 41.8
2016-07 45.3 41.0
2016-06 48.2 43.0
2016-05 46.7 41.3
2016-04 41.6 36.7
2016-03 38.2 34.4
2016-02 32.2 29.0
2016-01 30.7 28.3
2015-12 38.0 35.0
2015-11 44.3 41.2
2015-10 48.4 43.1
2015-09 47.6 42.4
2015-08 46.6 41.9
2015-07 56.6 51.4
2015-06 61.5 54.8
2015-05 64.1 57.5
2015-04 59.5 55.4
2015-03 57.3 52.8
2015-02 58.2 51.3
2015-01 50.1 43.1
2014-12 64.2 52.2
2014-11 80.8 64.8
2014-10 88.7 70.0
2014-09 98.9 76.7
2014-08 103.5 77.7
2014-07 108.6 80.2
2014-06 111.9 82.3
2014-05 109.2 79.6
2014-04 108.0 78.1
2014-03 107.9 78.0
2014-02 108.7 79.6
2014-01 107.6 79.0
2013-12 110.7 80.7
2013-11 107.7 79.9
2013-10 109.4 80.2
2013-09 111.6 83.6
2013-08 110.1 82.8
2013-07 107.7 82.3
2013-06 102.8 78.0
2013-05 103.0 79.4
2013-04 103.8 79.5
2013-03 109.7 84.6
2013-02 116.4 87.1
2013-01 112.0 84.3

Oil (Brent)

  • Source: INSEE

Petroleum

Petroleum
prices of last month changes (in %)
M/M-1 M/M-3 M/M-12
Brent in $ per barrel 75.6 -10.8 -8.7 -33.2
Brent in € per barrel 69.6 -9.9 -10.0 -34.9
Gasoline cts €/L 62.4 -6.1 -0.1 -34.8
Gas Oil 625.1 -8.4 -18.3 -41.7
Heavy fuel 375.7 -8.1 4.0 -35.6
Naphtha 541.6 -13.8 -18.3 -36.3
  • Prices are in euros per tonne unless otherwise specified
  • Source: INSEE

Industrial raw material prices in euros continued to decrease

Prices in euros of industrial raw materials fell again in May 2023 (‑5.4% after ‑4.6% in April). Mineral commodity prices fell sharply (‑5.7% after ‑4.4%), driven by further drops in prices of ferrous metals (‑9.3% after ‑10.1%) and non-ferrous metals (‑4.3% after ‑1.7%). Lastly, prices of precious metals edged down (‑0.5% after +4.7%).

Prices for agro-industrial raw materials continued to slide (‑3.2% after ‑6.6%), due to further declines in those for paper pulp (‑5.7% after ‑12.8%) and sawn softwood (‑3.5% after ‑1.2%). Prices for natural textile fibres also went down (‑3.7% after +0.0%). Conversely, natural rubber prices bounced back (+1.0% after ‑1.4%), as did those for hides (+0.9% after ‑2.4%), while tropical wood prices increased (+1.2% after +0.1%).

Industrial raw materials

index 2010=100
Industrial raw materials (index 2010=100)
Prices in foreign currencies Prices in euros
2023-05 99.9 121.6
2023-04 106.5 128.6
2023-03 109.0 134.8
2023-02 111.9 138.4
2023-01 112.7 138.7
2022-12 107.1 133.7
2022-11 99.5 128.7
2022-10 97.2 130.4
2022-09 100.1 133.5
2022-08 106.4 139.1
2022-07 104.7 136.4
2022-06 117.6 147.7
2022-05 124.6 156.2
2022-04 139.7 171.8
2022-03 144.9 175.1
2022-02 133.4 156.6
2022-01 127.0 149.4
2021-12 119.9 141.1
2021-11 111.6 130.0
2021-10 120.3 137.8
2021-09 117.8 133.1
2021-08 123.4 139.3
2021-07 134.6 151.4
2021-06 137.0 151.2
2021-05 140.0 153.4
2021-04 128.4 142.6
2021-03 121.4 135.7
2021-02 118.3 130.2
2021-01 115.5 126.3
2020-12 110.9 121.0
2020-11 96.9 108.6
2020-10 92.7 104.4
2020-09 94.6 106.3
2020-08 93.0 104.1
2020-07 84.4 97.4
2020-06 79.0 92.8
2020-05 73.8 89.5
2020-04 70.8 86.1
2020-03 74.6 89.2
2020-02 78.0 94.6
2020-01 82.2 98.0
2019-12 80.3 95.6
2019-11 77.7 93.0
2019-10 78.7 94.1
2019-09 80.8 97.0
2019-08 79.9 95.0
2019-07 89.0 105.1
2019-06 84.9 99.6
2019-05 83.2 98.4
2019-04 83.9 99.0
2019-03 82.1 96.4
2019-02 82.1 95.9
2019-01 76.4 88.7
2018-12 74.9 87.1
2018-11 77.1 89.7
2018-10 78.4 90.3
2018-09 76.7 87.1
2018-08 77.5 88.8
2018-07 78.4 89.0
2018-06 82.5 94.0
2018-05 83.3 93.9
2018-04 82.6 89.8
2018-03 82.1 88.7
2018-02 86.0 92.8
2018-01 85.6 93.4
2017-12 81.5 91.5
2017-11 79.9 90.4
2017-10 78.8 89.1
2017-09 80.9 90.3
2017-08 79.6 89.5
2017-07 73.9 85.1
2017-06 69.8 82.4
2017-05 71.6 85.7
2017-04 75.0 92.6
2017-03 80.6 99.8
2017-02 81.1 100.9
2017-01 76.5 95.4
2016-12 75.2 94.4
2016-11 71.6 88.0
2016-10 64.5 77.7
2016-09 63.6 75.3
2016-08 65.4 77.5
2016-07 64.3 77.1
2016-06 60.9 72.1
2016-05 61.6 72.4
2016-04 63.2 74.2
2016-03 60.7 72.8
2016-02 56.2 67.3
2016-01 53.5 65.4
2015-12 54.1 66.1
2015-11 55.9 69.3
2015-10 60.4 71.6
2015-09 62.2 73.8
2015-08 61.9 74.1
2015-07 63.5 77.1
2015-06 68.8 81.9
2015-05 70.1 83.8
2015-04 67.0 82.9
2015-03 68.1 83.8
2015-02 70.4 82.8
2015-01 73.1 84.0
2014-12 76.9 83.3
2014-11 80.2 85.8
2014-10 81.4 85.7
2014-09 83.6 86.5
2014-08 87.1 87.2
2014-07 87.4 86.1
2014-06 84.4 82.8
2014-05 85.7 83.3
2014-04 88.8 85.8
2014-03 87.3 84.3
2014-02 90.0 88.0
2014-01 92.2 90.4
2013-12 93.8 91.4
2013-11 93.3 92.3
2013-10 92.4 90.4
2013-09 92.0 92.0
2013-08 93.1 93.3
2013-07 89.3 91.1
2013-06 87.0 88.0
2013-05 90.6 93.1
2013-04 95.3 97.5
2013-03 98.6 101.3
2013-02 104.5 104.2
2013-01 102.9 103.1

Industrial raw materials

  • Source: INSEE

Food commodity prices in euros slightly retreated

In May 2023, food commodity prices in euros edged down (‑0.4% after +1.2% in April), in the wake of those for seafood (‑0.6% after +1.8%) and cereals (‑0.5% after +1.8%). Oilseed prices, for their part, continued to fall sharply (‑4.3% after ‑4.2%). Sugar prices, on the other hand, remained dynamic, albeit slowing down (+5.2% after +15.0%), as did those for tropical foodstuffs (+2.0% after +5.4%). Finally, meat prices recovered very slightly (+0.2% after ‑0.4%).

Food

index 2010=100
Food (index 2010=100)
Prices in foreign currencies Prices in euros
2023-05 157.5 187.1
2023-04 159.3 187.8
2023-03 153.8 185.7
2023-02 154.1 185.8
2023-01 150.6 180.7
2022-12 147.6 180.2
2022-11 146.9 186.5
2022-10 150.6 198.2
2022-09 152.2 198.6
2022-08 160.3 204.5
2022-07 162.9 206.8
2022-06 168.7 206.2
2022-05 167.8 205.1
2022-04 169.9 202.8
2022-03 164.6 193.0
2022-02 154.9 176.4
2022-01 151.3 172.9
2021-12 146.1 167.1
2021-11 142.8 161.7
2021-10 141.4 157.6
2021-09 138.9 152.5
2021-08 139.8 153.5
2021-07 133.5 146.0
2021-06 133.3 143.0
2021-05 134.9 143.6
2021-04 129.7 140.2
2021-03 122.1 132.6
2021-02 118.5 126.6
2021-01 114.9 122.0
2020-12 110.3 117.1
2020-11 108.9 118.8
2020-10 106.2 116.5
2020-09 104.6 114.5
2020-08 101.5 110.8
2020-07 98.7 111.2
2020-06 99.2 113.9
2020-05 103.5 122.8
2020-04 98.8 117.6
2020-03 102.0 119.1
2020-02 104.6 123.9
2020-01 105.6 122.8
2019-12 105.7 123.0
2019-11 103.2 120.6
2019-10 99.8 116.7
2019-09 98.5 115.6
2019-08 100.6 116.8
2019-07 102.5 118.0
2019-06 103.9 118.9
2019-05 102.0 117.7
2019-04 104.4 119.9
2019-03 101.6 116.0
2019-02 103.1 117.3
2019-01 104.0 117.6
2018-12 102.0 115.7
2018-11 103.4 117.5
2018-10 104.5 117.5
2018-09 99.6 110.3
2018-08 102.2 114.2
2018-07 107.4 118.7
2018-06 111.9 123.8
2018-05 112.2 122.5
2018-04 110.3 116.0
2018-03 110.9 116.1
2018-02 107.7 112.7
2018-01 105.0 111.3
2017-12 104.1 113.6
2017-11 106.6 117.5
2017-10 106.4 116.9
2017-09 107.6 116.7
2017-08 112.2 122.8
2017-07 116.7 130.9
2017-06 115.3 132.7
2017-05 113.4 132.6
2017-04 111.0 133.7
2017-03 114.1 138.0
2017-02 114.6 139.0
2017-01 114.4 139.2
2016-12 110.2 135.0
2016-11 112.4 134.3
2016-10 110.1 129.0
2016-09 109.6 126.3
2016-08 109.6 126.2
2016-07 112.3 131.1
2016-06 111.9 128.6
2016-05 105.8 120.7
2016-04 103.9 118.4
2016-03 100.6 117.1
2016-02 99.1 115.4
2016-01 98.5 117.1
2015-12 98.7 117.1
2015-11 99.3 119.2
2015-10 100.8 115.9
2015-09 100.3 115.5
2015-08 103.1 119.5
2015-07 104.4 122.7
2015-06 104.2 120.2
2015-05 103.9 120.3
2015-04 104.6 125.5
2015-03 105.5 125.6
2015-02 108.0 123.7
2015-01 111.3 124.8
2014-12 114.2 121.8
2014-11 115.7 122.3
2014-10 115.6 120.6
2014-09 116.8 120.0
2014-08 120.6 120.4
2014-07 122.8 120.9
2014-06 122.5 120.3
2014-05 125.7 122.3
2014-04 129.3 125.3
2014-03 127.4 123.4
2014-02 120.6 118.0
2014-01 116.7 114.6
2013-12 116.5 114.1
2013-11 110.6 109.4
2013-10 110.5 108.3
2013-09 110.1 109.7
2013-08 114.8 114.8
2013-07 118.5 120.1
2013-06 117.2 118.0
2013-05 117.9 120.2
2013-04 114.6 116.5
2013-03 113.1 115.4
2013-02 112.4 111.9
2013-01 111.6 111.7

Food

  • Source: INSEE

Imported raw materials (excluding energy) in euros

index 2010=100
Imported raw materials (excluding energy) in euros (index 2010=100)
Index of last month changes (in %)
M/M-1 M/M-3 M/M-12
Food total 187.1 -0.4 0.7 -8.8
Tropical foodstuffs 155.7 2.0 9.2 2.4
Oilseeds, vegetable oils 157.7 -4.3 -12.3 -31.2
Cereals 152.1 -0.5 -2.7 -9.1
Sugar 141.4 5.2 18.6 29.9
Meat 219.8 0.2 1.3 -5.4
Seafood products 185.6 -0.6 3.2 -2.1
Industrial raw materials 121.6 -5.4 -12.1 -22.2
 Agricultural raw materials 110.0 -3.2 -16.5 -37.3
   Natural textile fibres 115.9 -3.7 -10.0 -39.5
   Natural rubber 49.0 1.0 -3.7 -18.5
   Hides 43.8 0.9 -1.4 -23.6
   Wood pulp 125.8 -5.7 -27.1 -34.0
   Tropical wood 97.7 1.2 1.8 -2.4
   Sawn softwood 195.9 -3.5 -11.7 -54.4
 Minerals 121.4 -5.7 -11.5 -19.4
   Ferrous metals 95.2 -9.3 -17.3 -22.5
   Non-ferrous metals 130.4 -4.3 -10.5 -21.2
   Precious metals 172.3 -0.5 5.9 2.6
All commodities 150.7 -2.7 -5.6 -15.3
  • Source: INSEE

For further information

The relevant time series and a user guide are available at the bottom of this page.

Crude oil: from 1986, the price of Brent gradually established as a representative reference price of European supplies.

Petroleum: prices of oil products are monthly averages.

Indices of non-energy raw materials imported by France: the indices calculated by INSEE are monthly averages of raw material prices, weighted by their share in the French imports of raw materials (2010 = 100).

Next issue: 27 July 2023 at 12.00 pm

Pour en savoir plus

The relevant time series and a user guide are available at the bottom of this page.

Crude oil: from 1986, the price of Brent gradually established as a representative reference price of European supplies.

Petroleum: prices of oil products are monthly averages.

Indices of non-energy raw materials imported by France: the indices calculated by INSEE are monthly averages of raw material prices, weighted by their share in the French imports of raw materials (2010 = 100).

Next issue: 27 July 2023 at 12.00 pm

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