沙特阿拉伯在美国压力下决定增产石油

;V:H`M.GWFJ0沙特阿拉伯上周五表示，将把本国石油产量提高至两年来的最高水平。在油价飙升至将近每桶128美元的新高后，沙特屈从于美国方面的巨大压力。

z3yJ.Ir-@ HK0Saudi Arabia said on Friday that it was increasing its oil production to its highest level in two years, bowing to intense US pressure after the price surged to a fresh record of almost $128 a barrel.中国华尔街博客空间R,iesg*P

在宣布将日产量提高约30万桶之前一天，美国总统乔治•布什(George W. Bush)在利雅得向沙特国王阿卜杜拉(Abdullah)提出了增产请求。

The announcement of a boost to output by about 300,000 barrels a day came after a plea by George W. Bush, US president, to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.中国华尔街博客空间D_S8qMd^

8s;_"f[d'o;a;|9Y8l0沙特石油部长阿里•纳伊米(Ali Naimi)在会议后表示，在6月份之前，该国石油日产量将达到945万桶。沙特上一次达到这种产量水平是在2006年3月。该国表示，需要通过此举来弥补其它石油输出国组织（OPEC, 欧佩克）成员国产量下降的影响。

The kingdom’s oil output would hit 9.45m b/d by June, Ali Naimi, the country’s oil minister, said after the meeting. Saudi Arabia last produced at that level in March 2006. It said the move was needed to compensate for lower output from other countries in Opec.

此次油价暴涨之前，高盛(Goldman Sachs)做出了高度看涨的预测，此外，市场人士担心，由于上周地震对中国一些水电站造成毁坏，中国的石油消耗量可能增加。中国华尔街博客空间iTiLc+Y/w?#u1D-I

T"j8mBxs uVWR!i0The jump in oil prices came after an extremely bullish forecast by Goldman Sachs and fears that China will need to step up fuel consumption after this week’s earthquake damaged its hydro-electric power plants.中国华尔街博客空间r8k:e C^+p+NK

cn&w'QW/L#v/XC0这家华尔街投行预测，今年下半年的平均油价将达到每桶141美元。高盛是石油市场上影响力最大的机构之一。

The Wall Street bank – one of the most influential voices in the oil market – forecast that prices would average $141 a barrel in the second half of the year. 中国华尔街博客空间'_"s Vg"y}8l;M.u

K9D4W oA.I'?Q-^``0当日美国原油期货价格触及每桶127.82美元的创纪录高点，上涨近3.70美元。但沙特增产的消息使得油价立刻回落，收于每桶126.29美元。

US crude oil futures hit a record high of $127.82 a barrel, up nearly $3.70 on the day. But the Saudi announcement immediately sent the price down to settle at $126.29 a barrel. 中国华尔街博客空间p@$}Y,d v~

y0g l$h&s+k0早些时候，油价飙升导致了欧佩克内部首次出现分歧。当时作为该组织最新成员国和最小的产油国，厄瓜多尔打破了平静，表示该国将争取增产。厄瓜多尔石油部长加洛•奇里沃加(Galo Chiriboga)表示，有必要增产以帮助那些苦苦应对创纪录油价的贫困国家。

8g)D1viX V0The surge in prices had earlier caused the first fissures within Opec as Ecuador, the group’s newest member and smallest producer, broke ranks and said it would push for a rise in output. Galo Chiriboga, Ecuador’s oil minister, said that an increase was necessary to help poor countries struggling to cope with record prices.

idB'\'C"ASDFwyTk0分析师表示，拥有闲置产能的科威特和阿联酋可能会追随沙特增产。中国华尔街博客空间LeO+\ uJX

Analysts said it was likely that Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, which have spare production capacity, would follow the Saudi lead and raise output.

'nH`V;f O0对于布什而言，沙特此举是一个胜利。目前布什在国内面临着巨大压力，需要在夏季驾驶旺季到来前缓解汽油价格不断飙升的局面。中国华尔街博客空间W#Y]!Om@+j

IsK1Kj)v0The Saudi move is a triumph for Mr Bush, who is under intense pressure at home to provide relief from soaring petrol prices ahead of the summer driving season.

3mA7BH0XbYUU0然而，沙特方面有意等布什离开会议后才宣布上述决定，这使得美国官员陷入了尴尬境地——他们已经简要告知记者们，不要指望沙特方面会采取任何行动。中国华尔街博客空间%rk6p+h
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However, Riyadh pointedly waited until Mr Bush had left the meeting before it made the announcement – leaving US officials in the embarrassing position of having already briefed reporters not to expect any movement from the Saudis.