據路透社6月3日報道，受到需求出現復蘇跡象、美國庫存下降以及歐佩克將繼續減產的預期等因素的支撐，油價周三攀升至每桶40美元上方，為3月以來首見。

美國石油學會(American Petroleum Institute)周二表示，美國原油庫存減少48.3萬桶，這表明供應過剩狀況正在緩解。

截至格林尼治時間10：00點，8月份布倫特原油期貨價格上漲41美分，至39.98美元/桶，漲幅為1%，此前曾觸及3月6日以來的最高水平，至40.53美元/桶。7月份西德克薩斯中質原油(WTI)上漲56美分，至每桶37.37美元，漲幅為1.5%。

石油經紀商PVM的斯蒂芬?布倫諾克(Stephen Brennock)表示:“一個共識正在形成，即歐佩克將延長目前的減產。”他指的是歐佩克成員國及其盟友，包括俄羅斯。

近幾周，這兩種基準原油價格均大幅上漲，其中布倫特原油價格在4月跌至每桶16美元以下的21年低點后上漲了逾一倍，當時美國原油價格跌破零值。

中國經濟的復蘇以及其他國家政府放松了出行的限制，都在支撐著價格。歐佩克將在5月和6月將石油日產量削減970萬桶，約為冠狀病毒危機前全球產量的10%，以支撐油價。

受市場復蘇跡象的鼓舞，歐佩克+正考慮將減產延長至6月以后。但是，目前還沒有就把部長級會議從原定的6月晚些時候推遲到星期四一事達成協議。

一位歐佩克代表表示:“當布倫特原油價格逼近每桶40美元時，這是一個好跡象。這證明我們的方向是對的。”

一項調查顯示，作為全球第二大石油消費國，中國服務業上月恢復增長，這是今年1月以來的首次增長。凱投宏觀(Capital Economics)在一份報告中表示:“隨著與疫情相關的封鎖措施繼續解除，我們預計需求將逐漸恢復。”

王佳晶 摘譯自 路透社

原文如下：

Oil tops $40 on OPEC cuts and demand recovery

Oil climbed above $40 a barrel for the first time since March on Wednesday, supported by signs of recovery in coronavirus-hit demand, lower U.S. inventories and expectations that OPEC+ will keep oil output cuts in place.

Suggesting a supply glut is easing, the American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday said that U.S. crude inventories fell by 483,000 barrels.

Brent crude futures for August were up 41 cents, or 1%, at $39.98 by 1000 GMT, having earlier touched their highest since March 6 at $40.53. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for July gained 56 cents, or 1.5%, to $37.37.

“A consensus is emerging that the producer group will prolong current cuts,” said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM, referring to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+.

Both benchmarks have surged in recent weeks, with Brent more than doubling after hitting a 21-year low below $16 in April, when U.S. crude turned negative.

A recovery in China and the easing of government lockdowns elsewhere is supporting prices.

The OPEC+ group is cutting output by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd), about 10% of global output before the coronavirus crisis, in May and June to support prices.

Encouraged by signs of recovery in the market, OPEC+ is considering extending the cut beyond June. But there has been no agreement yet on bringing forward a ministerial meeting to Thursday from its original date later in June.

“When you have Brent approaching $40, it is a good sign,” one OPEC delegate said. “We are on the right track.”

The services sector in China, the world’s second-biggest oil consumer, returned to growth last month for the first time since January, a survey showed.

“As virus-related lockdown measures continue to be lifted, we expect that demand will gradually recover,” Capital Economics said in a report.