WCS oil benchmark and WTI discount.

Western Canadian Select (WCS) is the main heavy sour crude benchmark priced at Hardisty, Alberta. Its monthly price is quoted in US dollars per barrel; the WCS–WTI difference reflects quality, transport access and regional market conditions rather than one fixed discount.

WCS and WTI monthly price history.

The chart aligns Government of Alberta monthly WCS observations with monthly WTI observations on the same dates. The table shows WTI minus WCS, the commonly discussed Canadian heavy-crude discount.

Benchmark location Hardisty, Alberta

Published currency US dollars

Unit Per barrel

Typical quality 21.3° gravity · 3.46% sulfur

USD per barrel. Source: Government of Alberta Economic Dashboard. Delay: 2 months ago

WCS and WTI monthly price history observations
Period	WCS · USD per barrel	WTI · USD/barrel	WTI minus WCS
Sep 2026	80.37	96.90	+16.53
Aug 2026	68.21	82.70	+14.49
Jul 2026	67.16	79.40	+12.24
Jun 2026	65.90	81.90	+16.00
May 2026	83.14	99.10	+15.96
Apr 2026	85.48	98.60	+13.12
Mar 2026	75.85	91.20	+15.35
Feb 2026	50.33	64.60	+14.27
Jan 2026	47.22	60.30	+13.08
Dec 2025	46.45	57.90	+11.45
Nov 2025	48.77	59.60	+10.83
Oct 2025	48.62	60.20	+11.58
Sep 2025	51.63	63.70	+12.07
Aug 2025	53.70	64.10	+10.40
Jul 2025	58.31	67.40	+9.09
Jun 2025	58.22	67.50	+9.28
May 2025	51.57	61.00	+9.43
Apr 2025	50.83	63.10	+12.27
Mar 2025	54.38	67.80	+13.42
Feb 2025	59.07	71.30	+12.23
Jan 2025	62.86	75.10	+12.24
Dec 2024	57.76	69.80	+12.04
Nov 2024	57.56	69.70	+12.14
Oct 2024	57.86	71.60	+13.74
Sep 2024	55.90	69.60	+13.70
Aug 2024	61.37	75.60	+14.23
Jul 2024	67.49	80.50	+13.01
Jun 2024	66.83	78.90	+12.07
May 2024	65.59	78.80	+13.21
Apr 2024	68.65	84.60	+15.95
Mar 2024	61.28	80.50	+19.22
Feb 2024	57.83	76.70	+18.87
Jan 2024	53.77	73.90	+20.13
Dec 2023	45.48	72.10	+26.62
Nov 2023	56.61	77.40	+20.79
Oct 2023	67.23	85.60	+18.37
Sep 2023	73.85	89.60	+15.75
Aug 2023	70.13	81.40	+11.27
Jul 2023	64.12	76.40	+12.28
Jun 2023	56.42	70.20	+13.78
May 2023	56.24	71.60	+15.36
Apr 2023	63.48	79.40	+15.92
Mar 2023	52.99	73.40	+20.41
Feb 2023	51.16	76.80	+25.64
Jan 2023	49.94	78.10	+28.16
Dec 2022	47.14	76.50	+29.36
Nov 2022	57.44	84.80	+27.36
Oct 2022	66.38	87.30	+20.92
Sep 2022	64.18	83.90	+19.72
Aug 2022	70.45	91.60	+21.15
Jul 2022	80.44	99.90	+19.46
Jun 2022	101.17	114.60	+13.43
May 2022	96.60	109.60	+13.00
Apr 2022	89.06	101.80	+12.74
Mar 2022	94.57	108.50	+13.93
Feb 2022	79.10	91.70	+12.60
Jan 2022	65.60	83.10	+17.50
Dec 2021	53.10	71.50	+18.40
Nov 2021	65.25	79.20	+13.95
Oct 2021	69.30	81.30	+12.00
Sep 2021	58.02	71.60	+13.58
Aug 2021	54.47	67.70	+13.23
Jul 2021	58.46	72.50	+14.04
Jun 2021	58.46	71.40	+12.94
May 2021	54.78	65.20	+10.42
Apr 2021	50.51	61.70	+11.19
Mar 2021	50.94	62.40	+11.46
Feb 2021	45.13	59.10	+13.97
Jan 2021	40.04	52.10	+12.06
Dec 2020	37.32	47.10	+9.78
Nov 2020	31.57	41.10	+9.53
Oct 2020	31.17	39.50	+8.33
Sep 2020	28.43	39.60	+11.17
Aug 2020	34.60	42.40	+7.80
Jul 2020	32.50	40.80	+8.30
Jun 2020	33.97	38.30	+4.33
May 2020	11.67	28.60	+16.93
Apr 2020	3.50	16.50	+13.00
Mar 2020	12.84	29.90	+17.06
Feb 2020	27.28	50.50	+23.22
Jan 2020	36.82	57.50	+20.68
Dec 2019	39.11	59.80	+20.69
Nov 2019	42.32	57.10	+14.78
Oct 2019	41.96	54.00	+12.04
Sep 2019	44.84	57.00	+12.16
Aug 2019	43.10	54.80	+11.70
Jul 2019	44.70	57.50	+12.80
Jun 2019	41.74	54.70	+12.96
May 2019	52.44	60.80	+8.36
Apr 2019	53.25	63.90	+10.65
Mar 2019	48.21	58.20	+9.99
Feb 2019	45.33	55.00	+9.67
Jan 2019	34.30	51.50	+17.20
Dec 2018	5.97	49.00	+43.03
Nov 2018	11.03	56.70	+45.67
Oct 2018	41.15	70.80	+29.65
Sep 2018	40.37	70.20	+29.83
Aug 2018	48.55	68.00	+19.45
Jul 2018	52.83	70.80	+17.97
Jun 2018	52.10	67.50	+15.40
May 2018	53.25	70.00	+16.75
Apr 2018	40.47	66.30	+25.83
Mar 2018	35.53	62.80	+27.27
Feb 2018	37.72	62.20	+24.48
Jan 2018	42.53	63.70	+21.17
Dec 2017	44.02	57.90	+13.88
Nov 2017	45.52	56.70	+11.18
Oct 2017	39.87	51.60	+11.73
Sep 2017	39.93	49.80	+9.87
Aug 2017	38.50	48.00	+9.50
Jul 2017	36.37	46.70	+10.33
Jun 2017	35.80	45.20	+9.40
May 2017	38.84	48.50	+9.66
Apr 2017	36.84	51.10	+14.26
Mar 2017	35.68	49.60	+13.92
Feb 2017	39.14	53.40	+14.26
Jan 2017	37.19	52.50	+15.31
Dec 2016	37.18	52.00	+14.82
Nov 2016	31.89	45.60	+13.71
Oct 2016	35.83	49.90	+14.07
Sep 2016	30.62	45.20	+14.58
Aug 2016	30.90	44.80	+13.90
Jul 2016	32.80	44.70	+11.90
Jun 2016	36.47	48.80	+12.33
May 2016	32.52	46.70	+14.18
Apr 2016	27.88	41.00	+13.12
Mar 2016	23.46	37.80	+14.34
Feb 2016	16.30	30.40	+14.10
Jan 2016	17.88	31.50	+13.62
Dec 2015	22.51	37.20	+14.69
Nov 2015	27.78	42.70	+14.92
Oct 2015	32.78	46.20	+13.42
Sep 2015	26.50	45.50	+19.00
Aug 2015	29.48	42.90	+13.42
Jul 2015	43.49	50.90	+7.41
Jun 2015	51.29	59.80	+8.51
May 2015	47.50	59.30	+11.80
Apr 2015	40.26	54.40	+14.14
Mar 2015	34.76	47.80	+13.04
Feb 2015	36.52	50.60	+14.08
Jan 2015	30.43	47.30	+16.87
Dec 2014	43.24	59.30	+16.06
Nov 2014	62.87	75.80	+12.93
Oct 2014	70.60	84.40	+13.80
Sep 2014	74.35	93.20	+18.85
Aug 2014	73.89	96.40	+22.51
Jul 2014	82.73	102.90	+20.17
Jun 2014	86.56	105.20	+18.64
May 2014	82.72	101.90	+19.18
Apr 2014	79.56	102.10	+22.54
Mar 2014	79.42	100.60	+21.18
Feb 2014	81.54	100.70	+19.16
Jan 2014	65.69	94.90	+29.21
Dec 2013	58.95	97.90	+38.95
Nov 2013	62.62	93.90	+31.28
Oct 2013	74.21	100.50	+26.29
Sep 2013	83.57	106.20	+22.63
Aug 2013	90.97	106.50	+15.53
Jul 2013	90.50	104.70	+14.20
Jun 2013	75.39	95.80	+20.41
May 2013	80.93	94.80	+13.87
Apr 2013	68.87	92.00	+23.13
Mar 2013	66.72	92.90	+26.18
Feb 2013	58.40	95.30	+36.90
Jan 2013	62.11	94.70	+32.59
Dec 2012	57.87	88.20	+30.33
Nov 2012	72.47	86.70	+14.23
Oct 2012	79.88	89.50	+9.62
Sep 2012	78.17	94.50	+16.33
Aug 2012	69.03	94.10	+25.07
Jul 2012	64.28	87.90	+23.62
Jun 2012	66.37	82.40	+16.03
May 2012	75.10	94.70	+19.60
Apr 2012	70.40	103.30	+32.90
Mar 2012	75.01	106.20	+31.19
Feb 2012	83.04	102.20	+19.16
Jan 2012	86.47	100.30	+13.83
Dec 2011	86.86	98.60	+11.74
Nov 2011	87.32	97.10	+9.78
Oct 2011	76.54	86.40	+9.86
Sep 2011	71.60	85.60	+14.00
Aug 2011	66.51	86.30	+19.79
Jul 2011	78.31	97.30	+18.99
Jun 2011	79.42	96.30	+16.88
May 2011	85.66	101.30	+15.64
Apr 2011	89.69	110.00	+20.31
Mar 2011	79.13	102.90	+23.77
Feb 2011	63.42	89.50	+26.08
Jan 2011	71.18	89.40	+18.22
Dec 2010	74.89	89.10	+14.21
Nov 2010	69.56	84.20	+14.64
Oct 2010	56.72	81.90	+25.18
Sep 2010	55.44	75.30	+19.86
Aug 2010	61.93	76.60	+14.67
Jul 2010	64.28	76.40	+12.12
Jun 2010	62.33	75.40	+13.07
May 2010	57.49	73.70	+16.21
Apr 2010	72.02	84.50	+12.48
Mar 2010	71.82	81.30	+9.48
Feb 2010	67.91	76.40	+8.49
Jan 2010	69.28	78.40	+9.12
Dec 2009	61.89	74.50	+12.61
Nov 2009	65.04	78.00	+12.96
Oct 2009	65.29	75.80	+10.51
Sep 2009	59.52	69.40	+9.88
Aug 2009	60.57	71.10	+10.53
Jul 2009	54.45	64.10	+9.65
Jun 2009	61.18	69.60	+8.42
May 2009	51.64	59.10	+7.46
Apr 2009	43.76	49.80	+6.04
Mar 2009	40.76	47.50	+6.74
Feb 2009	31.71	39.20	+7.49
Jan 2009	29.97	41.70	+11.73
Dec 2008	23.18	41.40	+18.22
Nov 2008	37.54	57.30	+19.76
Oct 2008	58.08	76.60	+18.52
Sep 2008	83.87	103.90	+20.03
Aug 2008	101.10	116.60	+15.50
Jul 2008	114.95	133.40	+18.45
Jun 2008	108.15	133.90	+25.75
May 2008	104.28	125.00	+20.72
Apr 2008	94.64	112.60	+17.96
Mar 2008	88.87	105.50	+16.63
Feb 2008	71.75	95.40	+23.65
Jan 2008	68.72	93.00	+24.28
Dec 2007	50.02	91.40	+41.38
Nov 2007	66.29	94.80	+28.51
Oct 2007	54.69	85.90	+31.21
Sep 2007	53.00	79.90	+26.90
Aug 2007	52.76	72.40	+19.64
Jul 2007	53.06	74.10	+21.04
Jun 2007	47.19	67.50	+20.31
May 2007	46.33	63.50	+17.17
Apr 2007	44.03	63.90	+19.87
Mar 2007	45.60	60.60	+15.00
Feb 2007	44.43	59.30	+14.87
Jan 2007	38.05	54.20	+16.15
Dec 2006	43.90	62.00	+18.10
Nov 2006	39.17	59.10	+19.93
Oct 2006	36.90	58.90	+22.00
Sep 2006	41.56	63.80	+22.24
Aug 2006	55.83	73.00	+17.17
Jul 2006	57.93	74.40	+16.47
Jun 2006	51.63	70.90	+19.27
May 2006	57.29	70.90	+13.61
Apr 2006	52.02	69.40	+17.38
Mar 2006	36.77	62.90	+26.13
Feb 2006	28.68	61.60	+32.92
Jan 2006	38.80	65.50	+26.70
Dec 2005	32.78	59.40	+26.62
Nov 2005	34.34	58.30	+23.96
Oct 2005	41.52	62.40	+20.88
Sep 2005	42.13	65.50	+23.37
Aug 2005	48.29	65.00	+16.71
Jul 2005	44.78	58.70	+13.92
Jun 2005	38.16	56.40	+18.24
May 2005	27.46	49.80	+22.34
Apr 2005	31.02	53.00	+21.98
Mar 2005	36.50	54.20	+17.70
Feb 2005	28.44	48.00	+19.56
Jan 2005	29.42	46.80	+17.38

How to read the WCS benchmark.

What WCS represents

WCS is a blended western Canadian heavy-crude stream. It was created to combine several heavy streams, including conventional heavy crude and oil-sands bitumen, into a benchmark that can move through shared storage and pipeline systems.

Why WCS is compared with WTI

WTI is the main North American light-crude reference at Cushing, Oklahoma. Comparing observations from the same month shows the difference between a light sweet inland US marker and a heavy sour Canadian marker at Hardisty.

Why the discount changes

The difference can widen or narrow with pipeline capacity, refinery outages, transport costs, regional supply and demand for heavy crude. Density and sulfur affect processing needs, but market access can be just as important.

WCS versus WTI: the useful comparison.

WCS and WTI measure different crude streams at different inland hubs. Compare a shared period, then state the subtraction direction. On this page, “discount” means WTI minus WCS.

Western Canadian Select and WTI specifications
Property	WCS	WTI
Price location	Hardisty, Alberta	Cushing, Oklahoma
Crude type	Heavy sour blend	Light sweet crude
Typical gravity	21.3°	37–42°
Typical sulfur	3.46%	0.42%
Useful calculation	WTI minus WCS discount	Reference side of the discount

Example: if WTI is $75 and WCS is $60 for the same period, WTI minus WCS is a $15-per-barrel WCS discount. Do not subtract a daily WTI close from a monthly WCS average.

Continue with crude quality and company research.

The shared research lives on dedicated pages, so this benchmark page can stay focused on its own price, definition and market role.

Light, heavy, sweet and sour crude Compare density and sulfur across North America, the North Sea, the Middle East and Africa. Open the crude-quality map

Listed oil companies Find producers, refiners and pipeline operators by region, with verified exchange codes and delayed share charts. Open the company directory

Understand Western Canadian Select.

Government of Alberta →

Benchmark specification

Region: Western Canada · Hardisty
Quality / composition: Heavy sour crude blend
Price type: Physical crude benchmark

Reading the series

The WCS–WTI differential is useful only when observation dates, currencies and measurement periods match. An absolute WCS price and a quoted discount to WTI are different inputs.

Timing and drivers

Monthly averages in US dollars per barrel. The observation month describes a period average, not an intraday trade.

Watch: Heavy-oil refining demand, pipeline access, regional supply and transportation costs.

WCS has a refinery-fit role. Its heavy, sour quality can suit conversion equipment at complex US plants. See how refinery design helps explain US imports of Canadian heavy crude.

Questions about the Western Canadian Select benchmark.

What is the WCS oil price?

It is the price of Western Canadian Select at Hardisty, Alberta, normally stated in US dollars per barrel. This page uses the Government of Alberta monthly series.

Is WCS a single crude from one field?

No. WCS is a blend of western Canadian heavy streams, including conventional heavy crude, oil-sands bitumen, synthetic crude and diluent.

What does the WCS discount mean?

The common WCS discount is WTI minus WCS for the same period. A larger positive number means WCS is priced further below WTI.

Why is WCS usually below WTI?

WCS is denser and contains more sulfur than WTI, and it must travel from Hardisty to major refining markets. Refinery demand and transport capacity can widen or narrow the difference.

Primary sources and methodology.

See the price-chart.com methodology for units, timestamps, period averages and update rules.

Explore related oil benchmarks.

Move from this benchmark to daily WTI and Brent price histories, Dubai monthly history or another regional reference.

WTI United States · Cushing · Light sweet crude Daily + monthly history

Brent North Sea / international trade · Light sweet crude reference Daily + monthly history

Dubai Middle East / Asian trade · Medium sour crude reference Monthly + yearly history

Oman Oman / Asian trade · Light sour crude under cited S&P bands Official annual price history

Murban United Arab Emirates · Light crude · 40.5° gravity · 0.79% sulfur Official export availability forecast

OPEC Reference Basket Twelve OPEC member crude streams · Basket of light, medium and heavy crude oils Annual price history + component table