據美國油價網8月29日報道，路透周一公布的一項對煉油商的調查顯示，全球最大的原油出口國沙特阿拉伯10月將大幅下調亞洲旗艦級原油的價格，因其燃料需求低迷，且來自其他地區的原油競爭加劇。

為大多數中東石油出口國指導定價趨勢的沙特阿拉伯通常在每月5號左右公布下一個月的價格，作為一項政策，它不會對價格變動發表評論。沙特通常在月度OPEC+會議后設定下個月的官方售價（OSPs）。該組織的下一次會議定于9月5日舉行。

沙特將旗艦產品阿拉伯輕質原油的價格上調0.5美元，至每桶9.80美元，創下了對阿曼/迪拜基準原油的歷史最高溢價。

根據路透周一調查的五名煉油消息人士，沙特阿拉伯可能將10月份運往亞洲的阿拉伯輕質原油價格平均下調4.50美元/桶。煉油商預計，阿拉伯輕質原油10月份的價格將較阿曼/迪拜的價格高出3.85至6.30美元/桶。

預期溢價遠低于中東基準有兩個原因。第一個是擔心需求不會強勁，同時擔心經濟放緩。另一個原因是與迪拜掛鉤的原油和與布倫特掛鉤的原油之間的價差不斷縮小，這抑制了對與迪拜基準原油掛鉤的原油的需求。迪拜基準原油是中東原油運往亞洲的定價基準。

此外，一位煉油消息人士對路透表示，對西非和美國廉價原油的需求也可能緩解亞洲原油市場的緊張狀況。

另一位消息人士稱，由于歐洲需求低迷，一些原本運往西方的沙特原油現在正回到亞洲。

黎泱 編譯自 美國油價網

原文如下：

Saudi Arabia Expected To Slash Oil Prices To Asia

Saudi Arabia, the world’s top crude oil exporter, is expected to slash the price of its flagship grade to Asia for October amid lackluster fuel demand and increased competition from crude from other regions, a Reuters survey of refiners showed on Monday.  

Saudi Arabia, which sets the pricing trend for most Middle Eastern oil exporters, typically announces its prices for the following month around the fifth of each month, and as a policy, it doesn’t comment on the price movements. The Kingdom usually sets the official selling prices (OSPs) for the following month after the monthly OPEC+ meeting. The group’s next meeting is scheduled for September 5. 

Saudi oil for September to Asia is being set at a record-high premium over the Dubai/Oman benchmark as the Kingdom raised the price of its flagship Arab Light grade by $0.50 a barrel to a record high of $9.80 per barrel over Oman/Dubai. 

According to five refining sources Reuters polled on Monday, Saudi Arabia could slash the Arab Light prices to its key market Asia by an average of $4.50 a barrel for October loadings. The refiners expect the Arab Light’s October price to be between $3.85 and $6.30 per barrel over Oman/Dubai. 

There are two reasons for the expectations of much lower premiums over the Middle Eastern benchmarks. The first one is the fear that demand would not be strong with concerns of economic slowdown. The other one is the narrowing spread between Dubai-linked and Brent-linked cargoes, which has curbed demand for cargoes linked to the Dubai benchmark, off which Middle Eastern crudes are priced for loadings to Asia. 

Moreover, demand for cheaper crudes from West Africa and the U.S. could have also eased the perceived tightness on the Asian crude market, a refining source told Reuters. 

Another source said that some Saudi crude originally sent west is now returning to Asia because of lackluster European demand.