Consumption and production increased for all
fuels, reaching record levels for every fuel type
except nuclear power. For each of the fossil
fuels, global consumption rose more rapidly
than production. The data suggests that growth
in global CO2 emissions from energy use also
accelerated in 2013, although it remained
below average.
Emerging economies dominated global growth
again, but the increase was below the ten-year
average in these countries, and above average
in the OECD. China once again had the largest
growth increment, followed by the US.
Consumption in the EU and Japan fell to the
lowest levels since 1995 and 1993 respectively.
Energy price developments in 2013 were mixed,
generally rising in North America (except for coal)
and falling elsewhere. The annual average price
for Brent, the international crude oil benchmark,
declined for the first time since 2009 but
remained near record levels (in money-of-the-day
as well as inflation-adjusted terms). This was the
third consecutive year with the Brent average
price above $100 per barrel. Crude oil prices
weakened in early 2013 amid strong growth of oil
production in the US, but rebounded later in the
year due to a range of supply disruptions and
cold weather that boosted demand growth.
The differential between Brent and the US
benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI)
narrowed but remained elevated.