據4月4日海外時報報道，沙特阿拉伯提高了向其主要市場亞洲客戶出口的石油價格，表明該國對亞洲經濟復蘇非常有信心。

根據一份聲明，沙特阿美(Aramco)將于5月份將其對亞洲的石油售價提高20至50美分/桶。將把該地區關鍵的阿拉伯輕質原油等級價格從4月份提高40美分，至高于基準1.8美元/桶。彭博社對8家交易商和煉油商的調查顯示，市場此前預計該公司將把油價上調30美分。

雖然Arab Light在該地區的售價將比基準價格低20美分，但大多數西北歐洲客戶的價格不會改變。在美國的售價將削減每桶10美分。

幾個月來，亞洲的價格一直高于歐洲和美國，部分原因是歐洲和美國的能源需求從新冠肺炎疫情中恢復得更慢。

值得一提的是，由23個國家組成的歐佩克+周四同意，5月份將石油日產量增加35萬桶，6月份再增加同樣的產量，7月份再增加45萬桶。

此外，全球最大石油出口國沙特阿拉伯將取消同期每日減產100萬桶的額外減產計劃。今年5月，日產量將增加25萬桶，6月和7月分別增加35萬桶和40萬桶。

沙特能源部長阿卜杜勒阿齊茲·本·薩勒曼王子表示，歐佩克+在全球經濟完全復蘇之前仍需保持謹慎。該集團去年5月開始實施史無前例的減產措施，以提振油價，目前仍在抑制每天數百萬桶的市場供應。

王佳晶 摘譯自 海灣時報

原文如下：

Saudis hike oil prices for key Asia market in sign of confidence

Saudi Arabia raised prices for oil shipments to customers in its main market of Asia, signaling the kingdom's confidence in the region's economic recovery.

Aramco, the Saudi state energy firm, will increase its grades for Asia in May by between 20 and 50 cents a barrel, according to a statement. It will raise the key Arab Light grade for the region by 40 cents from April to $1.80 per barrel above the benchmark. The company had been expected to hike the grade by 30 cents, according to a Bloomberg survey of eight traders and refiners.

Most prices for North West European customers won't be changed, though Arab Light for the region will drop by 20 cents to $2.40 below the benchmark. Most grades to the U.S. will be cut by 10 cents.

Prices for Asia have been above those for Europe and the U.S. for several months, partly due to energy demand in the latter two recovering more slowly from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such a Russia - a grouping of 23 nations - agreed on Thursday to increase output by 350,000 barrels a day in May, add the same volume again in June and another 450,000 barrels a day in July.

In addition, Saudi Arabia - the world's largest oil exporter - will roll back a unilateral 1-million-barrel-a day cut over the same period. It will add 250,000 barrels a day in May, 350,000 in June and 400,000 in July.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told counterparts at the meeting that OPEC+ still needed to be cautious until the global economic recovery is complete. The group started unprecedented production curbs last May to bolster oil prices and is still holding back several million barrels a day from the market.