沙特转向中国以弥补对美石油出口剧减

Saudi Arabia’s oil exports to the US have fallen to the lowest level since the financial crisis, showing the impact of the shale boom and fast-growing imports from Canada.

沙特阿拉伯对美国的石油出口已跌至金融危机以来最低水平，一方面反映了页岩油繁荣的影响，另一方面则是加拿大对美石油出口快速增长的结果。

The US has bought an average of less than 1m barrels a day of Saudi crude over the past year, weekly and monthly US government data show.

美国政府的周度数据和月度数据显示，过去一年里，美国平均每天从沙特购入的原油不到1百万桶。

The kingdom has been compensating for the loss of sales by accelerating its pivot towards Asia, with China vying with the US as one of the biggest buyers of Saudi crude. But any weakening of the economic ties that bolster Saudi Arabia’s relations with the US may still provoke concern in Riyadh, as it undergoes a major power shift.

沙特一直在通过尽快转向亚洲，弥补原油销量的损失。中国正要从美国手中继承沙特原油最大买家之一的称号。不过，在沙特经历重大权力交接之际，任何显示沙特与美国经济合作正遭到削弱的迹象，仍可能引发沙特政府的担忧。

The last time that Saudi crude exports to the US averaged less than 1m b/d for a significant period was 2009, when the financial crisis had slashed demand for crude. There have been individual months when imports have fallen below that milestone level, but not for a prolonged period.

沙特对美国平均原油日出口量低于1百万桶并持续一段时间，这样的情形上次出现还是在2009年。当时，金融危机令原油需求大受打击。在这次之前，也曾有单个月份美国进口量跌破这一关口的情况，不过并未持续太长时间。

The only similar experience in recent memory was during the 1980s, when the kingdom slashed its own oil production in a failed attempt to prop up the price.

在人们近期记忆中，唯一与此类似的体验发生在上世纪80年代。当时，沙特大幅降低自己的石油产量，却未能撑起油价。

As recently as 2013, the US imported an average of more than 1.5m b/d.

就在2013年，美国从沙特进口的原油还曾超过每天150万桶。