Crude oil is a thriving global commodity that trades in markets around the world, both as spot oil and through derivatives contracts. Crude oil is a naturally occurring mineral deposit energy product that is refined into a liquid petroleum product. Crude oil is known as a fossil fuel because the material is the result of carbon animal remains that have decomposed over millions of years. Today, it is refined into usable products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, liquefied petroleum gasses, and feedstock for the petrochemical industry.
Most financial analysts believe crude oil is the most important commodity in the world, as it is currently the primary source of energy production and there has a major role to play in geo-political power plays as nations jockey for energy security and energy supply pre-eminence. Crude oil is a non-renewable resource, which means that it cannot be replaced naturally and is a finite resource.