據阿塞新聞4月8日消息：原油價格周四下跌，因官方數據顯示美國汽油庫存大幅增加，引發市場擔憂全球原油供應增加導致需求減弱。

截至格林威治時間06:48時，布倫特原油下跌51美分，跌幅0.8%，至每桶62.65美元。美國油價下跌53美分，至每桶59.24美元，跌幅0.9%。

美國能源部周三表示，盡管美國原油庫存降幅超過分析師預估，但汽油庫存大幅跳升，也出乎預期。

上周石油庫存減少350萬桶，至近5.02億桶；汽油庫存增加400萬桶，低于預期的減少，至2.3億桶，原因是煉油商在夏季駕駛季節之前提高了產量。

瑞穗證券能源期貨主管Bob Yawger表示:“煉油商可能希望略微降低運價，以避免汽油庫存突破歷史紀錄。”

與此同時，全球供應正在增加，俄羅斯產量較4月初的3月平均水平有所增加。

盡管如此，國際貨幣基金組織本周早些時候表示，為打擊COVID-19大流行而投入的大量公共開支可能會使今年全球經濟增長率提高到6％，這是自1970年代以來沒有達到的速度。

較高的經濟增長將刺激對石油及其產品的需求，從而有助于減少庫存。

“更積極的宏觀背景也可能吸引更多投資者對該行業的進一步興趣。”澳新銀行研究中心在一份報告中表示。該報告重申了其觀點，即布倫特原油將在第三季度達到每桶75美元。

馮娟 摘譯自 阿塞新聞

原文如下：

Oil falls after U.S. gasoline stocks surge against expectations

Crude prices fell on Thursday after official data showed a big increase in U.S. gasoline stocks, sparking concerns about demand weakening in the world’s biggest oil consumer as crude supplies around the world rise, Trend reports with reference to Reuters.

Brent crude fell 51 cents, or 0.8%, to $62.65 a barrel by 0648 GMT. U.S. oil fell 53 cents, or 0.9%, to $59.24 a barrel.

While crude oil stocks in the United States fell more than forecast by analysts, gasoline inventories jumped sharply, also against expectations, the U.S. Department of Energy said on Wednesday.

Oil inventories dropped by 3.5 million barrels last week to nearly 502 million barrels, and gasoline stocks increased by 4 million barrels, against expectations of a decline, to just over 230 million barrels, as refiners ramped up production before the summer driving season.

“Refiners may want to pull back on the run rate a bit to keep gasoline storage from challenging the all-time record,” said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho Securities.

At the same time, supply is rising across the world with Russian output increasing from average March levels in the first few days of April, traders said.

Iran may see some sanctions lifted and add to global supplies, with the United States and other powers holding talks on reviving a nuclear deal that almost stopped Iranian oil from coming to market.

Still, the International Monetary Fund said earlier this week the massive public spending deployed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic may increase global growth to 6% this year, a rate not achieved since the 1970s.

Higher economic growth would boost demand for oil and its products, helping to reduce stockpiles.

“A more positive macro backdrop is also likely to attract further investor interest in the sector,” ANZ Research said in a note, reiterating its view that Brent crude will reach $75 a barrel in the third quarter.