據路透社7月13日報道，美國海關部門7月13日公布的統計數據顯示，美國煉油商上季度進口西非原油的速度為近三年來最高，由于美國煉油商提高車用燃料油產量以滿足夏季駕駛需求，他們為此增加購買對汽油有利的西非原油。

美國海關和船舶跟蹤數據顯示，美國——主要是PBF能源公司、菲利普斯66公司和Monroe能源公司的東海岸煉油業務——第二季度從西非國家的原油進口至少為1160萬桶，這是自2019年第三季度以來的最高水平。

盡管尼日利亞的Qua Iboe和Yoho原油價格觸及創紀錄水平，但美國進口仍有所上升。本季度Qua Iboe原油價格比布倫特原油平均溢價4.20美元。

美國的汽油需求已經攀升。根據美國能源信息署的最新數據，美國成品車用汽油的日消費量達到940萬桶，為2021年底以來的最高水平。美國東海岸的汽油價格為每加侖4.50至5美元。

美國5月份西非原油進口量激增，達到520萬桶，比4月份增加了一倍多。輕質原油——比如來自西非的輕質原油——通常能比重質原油生產更多的汽油。 

李峻 編譯自 路透社

原文如下：

U.S. refiners step up imports of gasoline-friendly West African crude

U.S. refiners last quarter imported West African oil at the highest rate in nearly three years, customs data showed, buying the gasoline-friendly crudes as they boosted motor fuel production to meet summer driving demand.

imports from West African nations, primarily by East Coast operations of PBF Energy, Phillips 66 and Monroe Energy, were at least 11.6 MM barrels in the second quarter, U.S. customs and ship-tracking data on Refinitiv Eikon showed, the highest since the third quarter of 2019.

imports rose even as prices for Nigeria's Qua Iboe and Yoho crudes touched record levels. Qua Iboe averaged a $4.20 premium to dated Brent in the quarter.

U.S. gasoline demand has climbed. Consumption of finished motor gasoline reached 9.4 MM barrels per day, the highest since the end of 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. East Coast gas prices were $4.50 to $5 per gallon.

West African imports spiked in May with 5.2 MM barrels being discharged in the United States, more than doubling from April. Light oil, like that from West Africa, typically produces a greater percentage of gasoline than heavy oil.