據3月28日印度時報報道，隨著產量的激增和需求的下降，全球原油價格持續下降，專家們認為，運輸汽油等燃料的成本可能會比產品本身更高。

一個典型的例子是加拿大，據彭博社報道，加拿大的重質原油價格已經遠低于將其運往煉油廠的成本。該報告概述了加拿大西部的阿爾伯塔省的精選原油價格已經跌至每桶5.06加元，低于該國星巴克出售的部分精選咖啡飲料的價格。而將重質原油運輸到像德克薩斯州這樣的遙遠地方的成本在每桶7至9美元之間。

在美國，汽油零售價格自2016年以來首次跌至每加侖2美元以下（1加侖為3.78升）。路透社報道稱，美國為應對疫情封鎖了全國的多數地區，全國物流已經停止，導致汽油價格下跌。

封鎖對印度的煉油廠也產生了巨大影響。路透社周六報道，由于該國需求急速下降，兩家印度煉油廠宣布對來自中東的原油采購遭遇不可抗力。據報道，儲油罐已經滿到了邊緣，沒有更多的空間供新進口原油儲存。上周該國提高了燃油消費稅，從而保持的燃油價格暫時穩定。

但是，供大于求的問題可能會長期存在。

這里要注意的重點之一是，因飛機停飛，且儲存的航空級燃料的“保質期”又非常短，航空燃料需求急劇下降，從而導致國際市場原油價格暴跌。

在所有影響因素中，沙特和俄羅斯之間的生產戰已成為供應增加的催化劑。在莫斯科拒絕減產的提議后，歐佩克與俄羅斯等其他產油國之間的一項為期三年的供應協議在三月初破裂。沙特對此做出反應，表示會將其產量提高到歷史新高。產量過剩和需求下降對石油價格產生螺旋效應，許多人相信，這僅僅是一切的開始。

舒曉玲 摘譯自 印度時報

原文如下：

In some countries, transporting petrol may become costlier than petrol itself

With global crude prices falling steadily amid a spurt in production and a simultaneous fall in demand, experts believe that transporting fuels like petrol could become more costly than the product itself.

A case in point is Canada where, according to a Bloomberg report, prices of heavy crude has become far cheaper than the cost of transporting it to refineries. The report outlined how Western Canadian Select crude in Alberta is down to $5.06 for a barrel which is less than prices of some select coffee drinks at the country's Starbucks outlets. And to transport heavy crude to distant places like Texas costs anywhere between $7 and $9 per barrel.

In the United States, retail gasoline prices fell to below $2 per gallon (1 gallon is 3.78 liters) for the first time since 2016. Reuters reported that the fall in prices come as transit across the country has been halted due to coronavirus and the consequent lockdowns in many parts.

Lockdown has also had a strong effect on refineries in India. Reuters reported on Saturday that two Indian refineries have declared force majeure on crude purchases from the Middle East due to crashing demands in the country. Storage tanks are reportedly full to the brim and there is just no more space for fresh imports. The excise on fuel was increased last week which has resulted in fuel prices being steady here for the moment.

The problem of aplenty, however, may be here to stay.

One of the important points to note here is that demand for jet fuel has come crashing down which has also contributed to crashing crude prices in the international market. Planes are grounded and stored aviation-grade fuel has a far lesser 'shelf life.'

Amid all of this, the production war between Saudi Arabia and Russia has acted as a catalyst in boosting supplies. A supply pact of three years between Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers like Russia fell apart earlier in March after Moscow refused Saudi proposal to cut back on production. Saudi Arabia reacted by promising to take its production to record highs. Excess production and falling demand has had a spiraling effect on oil prices and many believe this is only the start of it all.