天然氣行業

????與世界上很多商品不同的是，天然氣的價格在過去一年里實際上下降了，要知道，在去年價格下降的商品屈指可數。

????但是，這種情況不會持續太久。核能發電約占日本電力系統總發電量的30%。上周該國發生大地震后，工人們為避免出現核災難，已經停止了核能發電。

????現在由于日本核能生產中斷，人們認為大量液化天然氣必然會被運往該國，從而導致天然氣期貨交易市場出現反彈。

????上周二，在紐約商品交易所（New York Mercantile Exchange），天然氣期貨價格連續第三天反彈，上漲了1.2%，達到3.959美元/百萬英熱單位。不過，盡管天然氣價格近日上漲，但與去年相比仍然下降了11%。

汽車行業

????日本是世界第三大汽車生產國，然而由于自然災害，導致銷往世界各地的車輛生產中斷。日本的汽車業將舉步維艱。

????《財富》（Fortune）的阿萊克斯?泰勒表示，預計日本幾家最大的汽車廠商將繼續停產。有些分析師還預測說，停產將會延續數月。泰勒還指出，未來幾周，美國的汽車購買者會對這場大災難的影響有切身感受：德意志銀行（Deutsche Bank）估計，北美銷售的所有車輛中，有12%產自日本；而且，日本汽車廠商在北美生產的車輛中，至少也都有些配件產自日本。

????而未來5個月恰是一年中美國汽車銷售的旺季，因此生產的持續中斷，有可能導致某些產品缺貨。

半導體行業

????日本是為數不多的技術先進的經濟體之一，在全球半導體行業擁有舉足輕重的地位。正是那些小小的芯片驅動著手機和計算機等各種電子產品正常運轉。

????但是，兩家主要制造廠暫停運營，會在未來幾個月給整個半導體行業造成巨大壓力，無形中會推動全球電子產品價格上漲。信越化學工業株式會社（Shin-Etsu Chemical）生產用于半導體中的硅晶圓。該公司宣布，旗下白川工廠已停止運營。該工廠在日本電子晶圓生產中占據的份額已經過半。截至上周二下午，該公司網站表示，由于需要繼續接受檢測，白川工廠仍將暫停運營。

????“繼續停產可能對半導體行業產生重大影響。” 野村國際經濟研究部（Nomura Global Economics）表示。該預測公司同時還介紹說，晶圓廠商恢復運營還需要些時日；而且，另外一家重要晶圓廠商Sumco公司設在九州的伊萬里（Imari）工廠的停產，也會對半導體行業產生影響。

石油行業

????日本東京一家加油站前豎著一塊牌子，上面寫著汽油已售罄。

????像這回接連襲擊日本的大地震和海嘯等自然災害，往往導致煉油廠停產，結果必然是燃料價格上漲。事實上，盡管日本的幾家煉油廠確實已經停止運營，但是，一周多以來，原油價格卻首次跌至100美元/桶以下。

????在上周二的電子交易中，4月交貨的美國原油價格下滑了3.77美元，跌至97.42美元/桶。日本發生的自然災害轉移了人們對于中東動蕩局勢的注意力，而后者此前導致石油價格飛漲。

????但是，由于日本是世界第三大石油進口國，而人們預計該國對于石油的需求將減少，這給石油價格帶來了下行壓力。盡管如此，這仍不過是投機者的猜測而已，實際價格走向可能有所不同。但是，迄今為止，石油價格在下跌。

旅游行業

????長期以來，日本一直吸引著來自世界各地的旅游者。但是，野村國際經濟研究部介紹說，盡管大地震和海嘯對主題公園和酒店造成的損失微乎其微，但仍然導致這些場所臨時關閉，而此舉至少會對其收入產生負面影響。

????東方樂園株式會社（Oriental Land Co）負責管理東京迪士尼度假村（Tokyo Disney Resort）。該公司已經關閉了旗下的公園和酒店，以對損失進行評估。不過，它計劃本月晚些時候重新開放這些公園和酒店。野村國際經濟研究部還介紹說，由于越來越多的日本人愿意待在家里，因此，卡拉OK、保齡球、游戲廳、旅游等休閑娛樂業的其他領域也很可能受到波及。

????譯者：大海

Natural gas industry

????Unlike many of the world's commodities, the price of natural gas has been one of the few that has actually declined this past year.

????But perhaps not for long. The production of nuclear power, which accounts for about 30% of Japan's electricity, has stalled as workers try to avert a nuclear disaster following last week's earthquake.

????The power disruptions have helped send natural gas futures rallying on speculation that liquefied natural gas cargoes would be diverted to Japan.

????On Tuesday, natural gas futures rallied for a third day, gaining 1.2% in the New York Mercantile Exchange to $3.959 a million British thermal units. Despite the recent rise, gas is still down 11% this year.

Auto industry

????As the world's third-largest producer of automobiles, Japan could expect major headwinds as the natural disasters disrupt production of vehicles sold across the world.

????As Fortune's Alex Taylor notes, Japan's largest auto producers are now expected to remain shut down through Wednesday, and some analysts foresee further disruptions lasting months. He also points out that U.S. car buyers will be feeling the effects of the disaster in coming weeks -- Deutsche Bank estimates that about 12% of all vehicles sold in North America come from Japan and that vehicles produced in the region by Japanese automakers contain at least some Japanese-made component.

????The next five months are the seasonally strongest of the year for U.S. sales, so extended disruptions could cause shortages of some products.

Semiconductor industry

????Japan is one of a few technologically sophisticated economies to dominate the global semiconductor industry -- those tiny chips that power a myriad of electronics from cell phones to computers.

????But suspension of operations at two major manufacturing plants could present headwinds for the industry in the coming months, potentially pushing prices higher for electronic products globally. Shin-Etsu Chemical, which makes silicon wafers needed to produce semiconductors, announced it has halted operations of its Shirakawa plant, which alone accounts for more than half of Japan's production of electronic wafers. As of Tuesday afternoon, the company's website says the plant remains out of operations as inspections continue.

????"A protracted stoppage could have a substantial impact on the semiconductor industry," according to Nomura Global Economics, noting that it could be a while before operations resume. The forecasting firm also says that suspension at another key facility, Sumco's Imari plant in Kyushu, could impact the industry.

Oil industry

????Natural disasters, like the earthquake and tsunami that pummeled Japan, often force refineries to shut down, leading to higher fuel prices. And indeed, several refineries in Japan have stopped operations, but crude prices have tumbled below $100 a barrel for the first time in more than a week.

????On Tuesday, U.S. crude for April delivery slid $3.77 to $97.42 a barrel in electronic trading. To be sure, the natural disaster in Japan has diverted attention away from troubles in the Middle East, which had sent oil prices surging.

????But expectations of lower oil demand from Japan -- the world's third-largest importer of oil -- has helped put downward pressures on prices. It's still a speculator's guess over where prices could go from here, but for now, they're on the way down.

Tourism industry

????Japan has long drawn tourists from around the world. But while the quake and tsunami only modestly damaged theme parks and hotels, it has forced them to temporarily close, which will likely have at least a negative impact on earnings, according to Nomura Global Economics.

????Oriental Land Co., which runs the Tokyo Disney Resort, has closed its parks and hotels to assess damages, but it's planning to announce a reopening later this month. Nomura notes that there's a widening mood across Japan toward staying at home, so other areas of the leisure industry including karaoke, bowling, video arcades and travel will likely be impacted as well.