據世界石油6月22日新加坡報道，由于歐佩克＋聯盟堅持遏制石油產量以支撐油價，亞洲買家正越來越多地向美國尋求更廉價的供應來源。

過去幾個月來，原油進口量最大地區的煉油廠接受沙特和伊拉克等產油國大幅削減常規合約產量。官方售價的大幅波動也讓他們大吃一驚。

產量的下降和價格的不確定性正促使亞洲的原油加工業更密切地關注美國原油，尤其是在過去幾個月跨太平洋的運費已經下降的情況下。四家從事原油買賣的亞洲加工商表示，他們正在考慮購買美國石油。

沙特和其他歐佩克成員國長期以來一直是亞洲可靠的供應商，但大幅減產后隨之而來的價格戰令該地區的買家感到不安。雖然這些傳統供應商不太可能在短期內被美國超越，但這種不穩定為美國生產商創造了機會。

新加坡JTD能源服務公司首席策略師John Driscoll表示：“煉廠很難應對這種波動。另一方面，由于價格和運費較低，美國石油看起來更具吸引力。”

流向亞洲的美國石油量已經在上升。Vortexa的數據顯示，預計約有4,900萬桶原油將于下月運抵亞洲，而5月和6月的運抵量分別為2,700萬桶。這家市場分析公司的高級分析師Serena Huang稱，美國原油相對于布倫特等其他基準原油的折扣幅度更大。

而包括GS加德士.和SK 創新在內的韓國加工商購買了WTI Midland和Eagle Ford等美國品種的原油，預計9月到貨。印度石油公司本月還搶購了1,200萬桶美國原油，包括Sweet、Eagle Ford和WTI Midland等品級，準備明年初交貨。

WTI Midland是一些北亞煉油商首選的品級，可與阿布扎比Murban和Das Blend、沙特的Arab Extra Light和Arab Light以及俄羅斯的Sokol相媲美。煉油廠官員表示，美國品種的原油比中東同類原油便宜。

據彭博社匯編的數據顯示，WTI Midland相對于基準原油的現貨溢價較一個月前上升了約2美元/桶，而Murban的溢價因其官方售價的上漲而上漲了4美元/桶。

裘寅 編譯自 世界石油

原文如下：

U.S. oil gaining appeal in Asia as OPEC+ suppliers limit output

As the OPEC+ alliance sticks to its guns in trying to curb oil output to shore up prices, Asian buyers are increasingly looking to the U.S. for a cheaper source of supply.

Refiners in the top crude-importing region have been forced to accept big reductions in their regular contracted volumes from producers including Saudi Arabia and Iraq in the past couple of months. They’ve also been taken aback by sharp swings in official selling prices.

The lower volumes and pricing uncertainty is encouraging Asian processors to take a closer look at American crudes, particularly as freight rates across the Pacific have fallen over the last couple of months. Staff at four Asian processors who buy and sell crude said they were considering purchasing U.S. oil.

Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members have long-standing reputations as reliable suppliers to Asia, but the price war followed quickly by massive output cuts have unsettled buyers in the region. While these traditional suppliers are unlikely to be overtaken by the U.S. anytime soon, the instability has created an opening for American producers.

“It’s difficult for refiners to cope with such volatility,” said John Driscoll, chief strategist at JTD Energy Services Pte in Singapore. “On the other hand, U.S. oil is looking more attractive with lower prices and freight rates.”

The volume of U.S. oil flowing to Asia is already rising. About 49 million barrels are scheduled to arrive next month, compared with 27 million barrels each in May and June, figures from Vortexa Ltd. show. Deeper discounts for American crude relative to other benchmark crudes such as Brent，said Serena Huang, a senior analyst at the market analytics firm.

South Korean processors including GS Caltex Corp. and SK Innovation Co. purchased U.S. varieties including WTI Midland and Eagle Ford for September. Indian Oil Corp. also snapped up 12 million barrels of American crude this month including Domestic Sweet, Eagle Ford and WTI Midland for delivery early next year.

WTI Midland, a favored grade for some North Asian refiners, is comparable to Abu Dhabi’s Murban and Das Blend and Saudi Arabia’s Arab Extra Light and Arab Light, as well as Russian Sokol. The American varieties are cheaper than similar Middle Eastern types of the crude, the refinery officials said.

The spot premium to purchase WTI Midland against its benchmark has risen by about $2 a barrel from a month earlier, while that for Murban has increased by $4 a barrel because of an increase in its official selling price, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.