沙特轉向中國以彌補對美石油出口劇減

Saudi Arabia’s oil exports to the US have fallen to the lowest level since the financial crisis, showing the impact of the shale boom and fast-growing imports from Canada.

沙特阿拉伯對美國的石油出口已跌至金融危機以來最低水平，一方面反映了頁岩油繁榮的影響，另一方面則是加拿大對美石油出口快速增長的結果。

The US has bought an average of less than 1m barrels a day of Saudi crude over the past year, weekly and monthly US government data show.

美國政府的周度數據和月度數據顯示，過去一年裏，美國平均每天從沙特購入的原油不到1百萬桶。

The kingdom has been compensating for the loss of sales by accelerating its pivot towards Asia, with China vying with the US as one of the biggest buyers of Saudi crude. But any weakening of the economic ties that bolster Saudi Arabia’s relations with the US may still provoke concern in Riyadh, as it undergoes a major power shift.

沙特一直在通過儘快轉向亞洲，彌補原油銷量的損失。中國正要從美國手中繼承沙特原油最大買家之一的稱號。不過，在沙特經歷重大權力交接之際，任何顯示沙特與美國經濟合作正遭到削弱的跡象，仍可能引發沙特政府的擔憂。

The last time that Saudi crude exports to the US averaged less than 1m b/d for a significant period was 2009, when the financial crisis had slashed demand for crude. There have been individual months when imports have fallen below that milestone level, but not for a prolonged period.

沙特對美國平均原油日出口量低於1百萬桶並持續一段時間，這樣的情形上次出現還是在2009年。當時，金融危機令原油需求大受打擊。在這次之前，也曾有單個月份美國進口量跌破這一關口的情況，不過並未持續太長時間。

The only similar experience in recent memory was during the 1980s, when the kingdom slashed its own oil production in a failed attempt to prop up the price.

在人們近期記憶中，唯一與此類似的體驗發生在上世紀80年代。當時，沙特大幅降低自己的石油產量，卻未能撐起油價。

As recently as 2013, the US imported an average of more than 1.5m b/d.

就在2013年，美國從沙特進口的原油還曾超過每天150萬桶。