據道瓊斯4月21日消息，知情人士表示，沙特和其他歐佩克成員國正在考慮盡快削減石油產量，而不是等到下個月該組織與美國和俄羅斯達成的產量協議開始時。

沙特考慮提前減產是因為周一美國油價歷史上首次出現負值。

一位熟悉情況的沙特官員表示:“必須對這場油價大屠殺采取行動，但可能有點太晚了。”

根據一個多星期前達成的一項多國協議，沙特阿同意限制其石油產量，這是為提振暴跌的油價而采取的廣泛努力的一部分。國有石油巨頭沙特阿美上周五表示，將從5月份開始每日銷售850萬桶原油，低于4月初的每日1,230萬桶。

根據正在考慮的一項提議，沙特可能立即開始削減石油產量。不過，一位知情人士表示，這樣的決定將取決于沙特的法律義務和已與買家達成的交貨。知情人士稱，提前減產的提議也可能適用于整個歐佩克。

張春曉 摘譯自 道瓊斯

原文如下：

Saudis Consider Cutting Oil Output Ahead of Schedule as Price Crashes

Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members are considering cutting their oil output as soon as possible, rather than waiting until next month when the group's recent production agreement with the U.S. and Russia is set to begin, people familiar with the matter said.

The considerations come as U.S. oil prices turned negative on Monday for the first time in history.

"Something has to be done about this bloodbath," said a Saudi official familiar with the matter. "But it might be a little bit too late."

Under a multinational agreement forged little more than a week ago, Saudi Arabia agreed to restrict its output as part of a broad effort to boost plummeting prices. State-run giant Saudi Arabian Oil Co. said Friday that it would market 8.5 million barrels a day of crude beginning in May, down from 12.3 million barrels a day early April.

Under a proposal being considered in the kingdom, Saudi Arabia could start the cuts immediately. Still, such a decision would depend on the kingdom's legal obligations and deliveries already agreed upon with buyers, one person said. The proposal to bring forward the cuts could also be applied throughout the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the people familiar with the matter said.