据ICIS-MRC网站10月26日莫斯科报道， 据路透社报道，通过限制原油加工并专注于生产汽油，美国炼油厂在减少柴油和取暖油等中间馏分油的过量库存方面取得了进展。

但在10月上半月，这一策略受到了国内汽油消费疲软的挑战，迫使他们进一步削减原油加工，以维持生产正常进行。

根据美国能源情报署(Energy Information Administration)的估计，最近两周，美国国内汽油供应量均出现下降，中断了此前的复苏。

目前国内汽油供应较前五年平均水平下降9%，本月初缺口为4%。

上周库存增加200万桶，为5月底以来最大周增幅，扭转了此前的下降趋势，显示出消费疲软的迹象。

汽油精炼利润已经从本月初的每桶9美元下降到7美元，从12月交割的期货价格来看，扭转了之前的上升趋势。

炼油厂试图通过进一步降低原油产量和汽油产量来限制汽油库存的增加。

上周，原油加工量较5年季度平均水平低16%，低于前一周13%的缺口，再次扭转了上升的趋势。

事实证明，炼油商的策略取得了成功，将汽油库存降至5年平均水平，并逐渐减少原油和馏分油的过剩。

但进展缓慢，战略石油储备之外的总库存仍为1.13亿桶，比五年平均水平高出近9%。

从全球来看，石油消费复苏的速度还不够快，不足以消化欧佩克+明年初计划增加的200万桶原油日产量。

几乎可以肯定的是，沙特阿拉伯、俄罗斯及其欧佩克+同盟国将不得不将增产计划至少推迟三个月，直到4月初，否则就有可能再次增加库存。

郝芬 译自 ICIS-MRC

原文如下：

US oil refineries slow as gasoline demand softens

By restricting crude processing and focusing on making gasoline, US petroleum refiners have made progress in reducing excess stocks of middle distillates such as diesel and heating oil, reported Reuters.

In the first half of October, however, the strategy has been challenged by softening domestic gasoline consumption, forcing them to make even deeper cuts in crude processing in an effort to stay on track.

The volume of gasoline supplied to domestic users fell in both the two most recent weeks, interrupting the previous recovery, according to estimates from the US Energy Information Administration.

Gasoline supplied to domestic users is now 9% below the previous five-year average, from a deficit of 4% at the start of the month.

In a sign of weak consumption, inventories increased by 2 million barrels last week, the largest one-week increase since the end of May, reversing the previous downward trend.

Gasoline refining margins have fallen to USD7 per barrel, from USD9 earlier in the month, reversing the previous upward trend, based on futures prices for deliveries in December.

Refiners have attempted to limit the build up in gasoline inventories by making even deeper reductions in crude throughput and gasoline production.

Crude processing was 16% below the five-year seasonal average last week, down from a deficit of 13% the previous week, and again reversing an improving trend.

The refiners' strategy has proved broadly successful, bringing gasoline stocks down to the five-year average, and gradually reducing the surplus of both crude and distillates.

But progress has been slow and total stocks outside the strategic petroleum reserve are still 113 million barrels or nearly 9% above the five-year average.

Globally, oil consumption has not recovered fast enough to absorb the increase of 2 million barrels per day in crude oil production scheduled by OPEC+ for the start of next year.

Saudi Arabia, Russia and their OPEC+ partners will almost certainly have to postpone the increase for at least three months until the start of April, or risk increasing stocks again.