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沙特阿拉伯5個月來首次上調(diào)其向客戶出售的原油價格，這也讓沙特阿拉伯與石油輸出國組織(Opec，簡稱：歐佩克)其他成員國展開價格戰(zhàn)的說法不攻自破。
沙特阿拉伯國家石油公司(Saudi Aramco)稱，針對亞洲客戶的基準(zhǔn)阿拉伯輕質(zhì)原油售價較12月交貨的迪拜/阿曼(Dubai/Oman)合約價格的折扣將為每桶10美分，低于11月折扣值，11月的折扣為1.05美元。
關(guān)于全球供應(yīng)過剩的擔(dān)憂，再加上需求放緩，致使上月全球基準(zhǔn)油價降至近4年來最低水平。自6月中旬達(dá)到每桶115美元以來，國際油價基準(zhǔn)之一布倫特(Brent)原油價格已累計下跌25%，美國油價基準(zhǔn)西德克薩斯中質(zhì)原油(West Texas Intermediate)也創(chuàng)下類似跌幅。
上月，沙特阿拉伯連續(xù)第四個月下調(diào)官方售價，使得一些分析師猜測，沙特阿拉伯在亞洲發(fā)起價格戰(zhàn)，以爭奪市場份額。但其他分析師表示，沙特阿拉伯正對客戶需求做出回應(yīng)。
石油專家稱，沙特周一的舉措反映了亞洲國家（特別是中國）最近的需求。
過去幾周，中國石油天然氣集團(tuán)公司(China National Petroleum Corp)的交易部門一直在大舉買入石油，在全球油價跌至近4年最低水平之際，該公司購入數(shù)百萬桶中東原油。
價格報告數(shù)據(jù)顯示，今年10月，中聯(lián)油(Chinaoil)購入逾2000萬桶迪拜、阿曼和Upper Zakum品級的原油，其中很多購買來自中國國有石油公司中石化(Sinopec)的子公司中聯(lián)化(Unipec)。
石油市場專家表示，作為全球最大能源消費國，中國正利用原油價格大幅下挫的機會，充實其戰(zhàn)略儲備。（中國進(jìn)出口網(wǎng)）
Saudi Arabia has increased the price it charges customers for its crude oil for the first time in five months, undermining the argument that the kingdom has launched a price war with fellow members of the Opec oil cartel.
Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company, said it would sell its benchmark Arab light to customers in Asia at a discount of 10 cents a barrel to the Dubai/Oman contract in December, up from a discount of $1.05 in November.
Concerns about a global supply glut amid weaker demand drove benchmark oil prices to their lowest level in almost four years last month. Since reaching $115 a barrel in mid June, Brent, the international oil marker, has fallen 25 per cent, while West Texas Intermediate, the US equivalent, is down by a similar amount.
Saudi Arabia cut its official prices last month for the fourth consecutive month, fuelling speculation among some analysts that the kingdom had embarked on a price war in Asia to fight for market share. Other analysts said, however, that Riyadh was responding to customer demand.
The move on Monday reflected recent demand from Asia, particularly China, said oil specialists.
The trading arm of China National Petroleum Corporation has been on a huge buying spree over the past few weeks, snapping up millions of barrels of Middle East crude as global oil prices fell to the lowest level in almost four years.
Price reporting data showed ChinaOil has bought more than 20m barrels of Dubai, Oman and Upper Zakum grades in October, many of them from Unipec, the subsidiary of Chinese state oil company Sinopec.
Oil market experts have suggested that China, the world’s largest energy consumer, is taking advantage of the steep dro in crude prices to fill its strategic reserves.
