中國從美進口原油激增 日均進口量達去年10倍

China imported nearly 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the US in the first five months of 2017, 10 times the average in 2016, according to data by Chinese customs.

根據中國海關的數據，今年前5個月，中國每天從美國進口原油近10萬桶，是2016年平均水平的10倍。

The upward trend seems to be picking up speed. In April and May, imports surged to more than 180,000 barrels per day on average.

增長的勢頭似乎正在加速。4月和5月的日均進口量大增至逾18萬桶。

In February, China became the biggest buyer of US crude oil, surpassing Canada, at a time when OPEC was scaling back its output.

今年2月，石油輸出國組織減產時，中國超過加拿大成爲美國原油的最大買家。

China's own falling production, political uncertainty in the Middle East - on which China has long depended for fuel - and the cheaper price of US oil have contributed to the increase in imports.

中國本國的石油產量下降、其長期倚賴的能源進口地--中東地區的政治不確定性，以及美國石油更低廉的價格，都是中國對美國石油進口量增加的原因。

While still far below the figure China pays its top suppliers, namely Russia, Saudi Arabia and Angola, the bill for US oil imports could come in well above 1 billion dollars this year, up from 150 million dollars in 2016, according to the official forecast.

官方預計，儘管中國來自美國的石油進口額仍遠低於來自其主要供應國俄羅斯、沙特和安哥拉的石油進口額，但今年來自美國的石油進口額有望從去年的1.5億美元增至遠超10億美元。