据普氏能源资讯8月19日报道，韩国最大的炼油商SK能源公司本周一表示，由于当地需求强劲，该公司今年上半年增加了汽油产量，同时减少了燃料油的产量。

该公司表示，在新的IMO 2020年海洋燃料法规出台之前，将在今年晚些时候进一步提高轻质石油产品的产量。国际海事组织正在朝着2020年1月1日全球海洋燃料最大硫含量的显著降低目标前进。由于国际海事组织的规定将从明年1月开始实施，预计馏分油需求将会增长。

今年上半年，这家炼油企业生产了5637万桶汽油，较上年同期的5274万桶增加6.9%。汽油产量同比增长4.2%，至2909万桶，高于去年同期的2792万桶。燃料油产量同比下降2.1%，至329万桶，上年同期为336万桶。该公表示，由于石油税的降低，当地对较低零售价格的需求增加，导致汽油和汽油等汽车燃料产量上升。

韩国国家石油公司(Korea National Oil Corp)的数据显示，今年上半年，韩国的汽油需求同比增长4.1%，至8557万桶，同期汽油消费量同比增长4.1%，至4061万桶。

韩国政府从去年11月起连续6个月将汽车燃料税下调15%，以期在经济放缓之际帮助降低消费者成本。临时措施原定于5月结束，但政府决定将减税延长4个月，至8月底——税率从15%降至7%。

SK Energy表示，将在今年晚些时候增加轻油产品的产量，以应对国际海事组织的燃料规定。该公司高层补充道:“由于国际海事组织(IMO)燃料法规即将出台，预计由于托运人提前备货，今年下半年汽油和低硫轻质产品的利润率将大幅提高。”

该炼油厂自2017年以来一直在建设渣油加氢脱硫（VRDS）装置，其Ulsan炼油厂的产能为4万桶/天。该公司表示目标是在明年2月完成VRDS的建设，并尽早开始商业化生产，以满足国际海事组织规则下的需求。”

VRDS将把重质燃料油转化为低硫轻质油，实现含硫量0.5%的燃料油日产量3.4万桶，馏分油日产量6000桶。VRDS将把该公司的重油升级能力从目前的19.9万桶/天提高到23.9万桶/天。

由于韩国经济放缓，SK Energy上半年生产了2,671万桶石脑油，较上年同期的2,695万桶下降0.9%。但该公司上半年的航空燃油产量同比增长4.7%，至1,677万桶。

今年上半年，该公司共生产了1.4636亿桶成品油，其中还包括煤油和液化石油气，较上年同期的1.4102亿桶增长3.8%。

SK Energy在其Ulsan炼油厂拥有5个原油蒸馏装置，日产量总计84万桶。该公司第二季度原油开采率为90%，高于上年同期的88%，但一季度下降了95%。其子公司SK仁川石油上半年也生产了685万桶汽油和211万桶馏分油，低于上年同期的741万桶和221万桶。

SK仁川石油公司还生产其他产品，如航空燃料、液化石油气、煤油和石脑油等。该公司第二季度原油生产率为84%，低于上年同期的87%，也低于第一季度的87%。

洪伟立 摘译自 普氏能源资讯

原文如下：

South Korea's SK Energy increases gasoline, gasoil output in H1 ahead of IMO 2020 rule

South Korea's top refiner SK Energy has increased production of gasoline and gasoil in the first half of the year on solid local demand, while reducing output of fuel oil, a company official said Monday.

The official said the company will further raise output of light products later this year ahead of the new International Maritime Organization 2020 marine fuel regulations. The IMO is moving forward with a marked reduction in the global maximum sulfur content of marine fuel on January 1, 2020.

"Gasoil demand is expected to grow as the IMO regulations will be implemented from January next year," the company said.

The refiner produced 56.37 million barrels of gasoil over January-June, up 6.9% from 52.74 million barrels a year earlier.

It also increased gasoline output by 4.2% year on year to 29.09 million barrels of gasoline in the first six months, compared with 27.92 million barrels in the same period last year.

Its fuel oil production fell 2.1% year on year to 3.29 million barrels over January-June, compared with 3.36 million barrels a year ago.

"The rise in auto fuels production such as gasoil and gasoline was driven by stronger local demand on lower retail prices, thanks to oil tax reduction," the company official said.

South Korea's gasoil demand climbed 4.1% year on year to 85.57 million barrels in H1, while gasoline consumption also rose 4.1% year on year to 40.61 million barrels in the period, according to Korea National Oil Corp.

The South Korean government cut taxes on the auto fuels by 15% for six months from November last year with a view to help lower consumers' costs amid the country's slowing economy.

The temporary measure was scheduled to end in May, but the government has decided to extend the tax cut by four months until the end of August, with tax cut rate falling to 7% from 15%.

SK Energy said it would increase production of the light oil products later this year to brace for the IMO fuel regulations.

"Margins of gasoil and low sulfur light products are expected to sharply improve in the second half on pre-stocking process by shippers as IMO fuel regulations are nearing," the official said.

The refiner has been building a vacuum residue desulfurization or VRDS since 2017, with a capacity of 40,000 b/d in its Ulsan complex.

"We aim to complete construction of VRDS in February next year and start commercial production the VRDS as early as possible to meet demand under the IMO rules," the company official said.

The VRDS will transform heavy fuel oil into value-added low sulfur light products, producing 34,000 b/d of 0.5% sulfur fuel oil and 6,000 b/d of gasoil. The VRDS will increase the company's heavy oil upgrader capacity to 239,000 b/d from current 199,000 b/d.

The official said SK Energy produced 26.71 million barrels of naphtha in H1, down 0.9% from 26.95 million barrels a year earlier, amid South Korea's economic slowdown.

But its jet fuel production climbed 4.7% year on year to 16.77 million barrels in H1.

The company produced a total of 146.36 million barrels of refined oil products for the first six months which also include kerosene and LPG over January-March, up 3.8% from 141.02 million barrels a year earlier.

SK Energy operates five crude distillation units with a combined capacity of 840,000 b/d in its Ulsan complex. Its crude run rate was 90% in Q2, up from 88% a year earlier but down 95% in Q1.

SK Energy's affiliate SK Incheon Petrochem also produced 6.85 million barrels of gasoil and 2.11 million barrels of gasoline in H1, down from 7.41 million barrels of gasoil and 2.21 million barrels of gasoline a year earlier.

SK Incheon produces other products, such as jet fuel, LPG, kerosene and naphtha, among others. Its crude run rate was 84% in Q2, down from 87% a year earlier and from 87% in Q1.