沙特否认其石油政策存在政治动机
Saudi Arabia’s oil minister has rejected claims that the kingdom is intent on pushing prices lower, saying the sharp falls were a “temporary” problem and not driven by political will.
The comments from Ali al-Naimi yesterday initially provided support for the oil price, which has fallen 45 per cent since mid-June to five and a half year lows. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, rose to $64.22 a barrel, but fell in afternoon trading in the US to $60.40, down 78 cents.
自6月中旬以来，油价累计下跌45%，至五年半低位。阿里•纳伊米(Ali al-Naimi)昨日发表的言论最初对油价构成了支撑，国际油价基准布伦特原油(Brent crude)一度升至每桶64.22美元，但在美国午盘交易中又跌至60.40美元，当日下跌了78美分。“I am optimistic about the future,” Mr Naimi said. “What we are facing now and what the world is facing is a temporary situation and will pass.” Mr Naimi blamed the falls on a rise in non-Opec supply at a time when demand was slowing down amid weaker global economic growth. But he said the market “must not forget the negative role of speculators” in causing volatility.
“我对未来很乐观。”纳伊米表示，“我们现在面临的和世界现在面临的，是一个暂时性情况，它会过去的。”纳伊米将油价下跌归咎于非欧佩克供应上升，而需求却因全球经济增长疲弱而放缓。但他表示，市场“绝不能忘记投机者（在引发波动中）的负面作用”。
Mr Naimi countered claims of a link between the kingdom’s oil policy and wider political motives, saying it was difficult for the Gulf nation and other members of Opec to reduce output and sacrifice market share in the current environment. Opec, led by its largest producer Saudi Arabia, stuck to its 30m barrels a day output target at its November meeting, despite calls from poorer members of the cartel for production cuts to shore up prices.
纳伊米反驳了这样一种说法，即沙特的石油政策与全局性政治动机之间存在联系。他表示，在当前环境下，很难安排海湾国家和欧佩克(OPEC)其他成员国减产和牺牲市场份额。在11月举行的会议上，欧佩克在产油量最大的成员国沙特的带动下，决定坚持3000万桶的日产量目标，尽管这个产油国卡特尔的一些较贫穷成员国呼吁减产以支撑油价。Mr Naimi has been criticised domestically for not clearly communicating the thinking behind Saudi oil policy that has contributed to further dramatic falls in the oil price and has also roiled the country’s stock market.
纳伊米最近在国内受到批评，批评者称他未能清楚地传达沙特石油政策背后的思路，从而加剧了油价的进一步戏剧性下滑，还搅乱了该国的股市。Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share index hit its lowest level since June 2013 this week, having dropped 15 per cent in the past 18 months. It rallied 9 per cent yesterday after Mr Naimi’s comments.
沙特的Tadawul全股指数(Tadawul All Share index)本周曾跌至2013年6月以来的低位，在过去18个月期间累计下跌了15%。纳伊米昨日表态后，该股指反弹9%。Striking an optimistic tone, Mr Naimi said he expected demand for crude to grow when the rebound in the global economy gathered pace. Saudi Arabia exported 10 per cent less oil overseas in October than it did a year earlier on weaker demand, according to the Joint Organisations Data Initiative.
纳伊米语气乐观，表示他预计随着全球经济的复苏步伐加快，原油需求将会增长。“联合组织数据倡议”(Joint Organisations Data Initiative)的数据显示，需求疲弱导致沙特10月份石油出口同比减少10%。
