原油是一種寶貴資源,各國甚至會為了爭奪石油資源而發動戰爭。上周,原油價格史上首次跌入負值。
上周一,西得克薩斯中質油期貨合約價格跌至歷史最低的每桶負39美元。雖然到上周四中午,期貨合約的價格反彈至每桶約18美元,但依舊遠遠低于2月每桶約50美元的水平。
導致價格波動的原因,歸根結底還是供需問題。由于通勤者和乘坐飛機的人數大幅減少,因此我們對石油和天然氣的需求也隨之下降。
關于此次史無前例的油價暴跌,本文一一解答了人們最關注的幾個問題。
油價為什么會跌入負值區間?
由于全球經濟對原油的需求減少,因此儲油空間被耗盡。購買WTI期貨合約的交易商,在合約到期時實際上沒有能力或方法接收原油。WTI是西得克薩斯中質油的縮寫,一直被作為全球基準原油。普通人也能購買這類期貨合約,而且除非到了不得不交割原油的地步,否則沒有人想賣掉這些合約。但由于儲油空間有限,隨著5月期貨合約的交割日期臨近,交易商在上周一開始虧本出售合約,因為他們根本找不到買家,也沒有地方可以存放原油。
GasBuddy公司的石油分析主管帕特里克·德·哈恩說:“我們會看到期貨合約交易商減少,實物交易商增多。許多期貨交易商損失慘重?!?/p>
公司的儲油空間為什么會告竭?
原油儲油空間有限。建設儲油空間需要耗費許多年,并且必須遵守政府的嚴格規定。而且新冠疫情讓全世界措手不及,沒有人預料到全球經濟會突然停擺。
如果沒有更多儲油空間會發生什么?
德·哈恩表示:“如果原油無人問津,各國會停止生產。一旦儲油空間耗竭,我認為[除了停產]別無選擇。”
從長遠來看,供需會自動恢復平衡,但在此之前,西得克薩斯中質油可能再次臨時跌為負值。
加油站的油價是否會破零?
不會,加油站不會付錢讓你去加油。但油價肯定會繼續下跌。事實上,Gasbuddy在上周二告訴《財富》雜志,密歇根州有六個加油站的無鉛汽油價格為每加侖0.88美元。
美國汽車協會(AAA)的發言人德文·格拉登說:“我們預計油價會繼續下跌?!奔幢阍驮俅蔚胴撝担\輸費用和加油站利潤等其他成本,也會使加油站的油價維持在0美元以上。但當前1.79美元的全美汽油價格可能很快跌至1.5美元以下。(財富中文網)
譯者:Biz
原油是一種寶貴資源,各國甚至會為了爭奪石油資源而發動戰爭。上周,原油價格史上首次跌入負值。
上周一,西得克薩斯中質油期貨合約價格跌至歷史最低的每桶負39美元。雖然到上周四中午,期貨合約的價格反彈至每桶約18美元,但依舊遠遠低于2月每桶約50美元的水平。
導致價格波動的原因,歸根結底還是供需問題。由于通勤者和乘坐飛機的人數大幅減少,因此我們對石油和天然氣的需求也隨之下降。
關于此次史無前例的油價暴跌,本文一一解答了人們最關注的幾個問題。
油價為什么會跌入負值區間?
由于全球經濟對原油的需求減少,因此儲油空間被耗盡。購買WTI期貨合約的交易商,在合約到期時實際上沒有能力或方法接收原油。WTI是西得克薩斯中質油的縮寫,一直被作為全球基準原油。普通人也能購買這類期貨合約,而且除非到了不得不交割原油的地步,否則沒有人想賣掉這些合約。但由于儲油空間有限,隨著5月期貨合約的交割日期臨近,交易商在上周一開始虧本出售合約,因為他們根本找不到買家,也沒有地方可以存放原油。
GasBuddy公司的石油分析主管帕特里克·德·哈恩說:“我們會看到期貨合約交易商減少,實物交易商增多。許多期貨交易商損失慘重。”
公司的儲油空間為什么會告竭?
原油儲油空間有限。建設儲油空間需要耗費許多年,并且必須遵守政府的嚴格規定。而且新冠疫情讓全世界措手不及,沒有人預料到全球經濟會突然停擺。
如果沒有更多儲油空間會發生什么?
德·哈恩表示:“如果原油無人問津,各國會停止生產。一旦儲油空間耗竭,我認為[除了停產]別無選擇。”
從長遠來看,供需會自動恢復平衡,但在此之前,西得克薩斯中質油可能再次臨時跌為負值。
加油站的油價是否會破零?
不會,加油站不會付錢讓你去加油。但油價肯定會繼續下跌。事實上,Gasbuddy在上周二告訴《財富》雜志,密歇根州有六個加油站的無鉛汽油價格為每加侖0.88美元。
美國汽車協會(AAA)的發言人德文·格拉登說:“我們預計油價會繼續下跌?!奔幢阍驮俅蔚胴撝?,運輸費用和加油站利潤等其他成本,也會使加油站的油價維持在0美元以上。但當前1.79美元的全美汽油價格可能很快跌至1.5美元以下。(財富中文網)
譯者:Biz
Last week the price of crude—a resource so valued that nations have waged wars over it—went under $0 for the first time in history.
On last Monday, the WTI contract was sitting at a record low of minus $39/barrel. It has since rebounded to around $18/barrel as of noon last Thursday, but that is still far below its February levels of around $50/barrel.
It all comes down to supply and demand. And without as many people commuting to work or flying, we just don't need as much oil and gas.
Here are a few answers to the most common questions about this unprecedented plunged in oil prices.
How can oil prices go negative?
As the global economy demands less crude, the places to store it are filling up. Traders buy WTI—which stands for "West Texas Intermediate" and is a grade of crude oil used as a global benchmark—futures contracts all the time without actually having the capacity or means to take ownership of crude when it comes due. Even average joes can buy these contracts—you'd just want to sell before you're obligated to take delivery of the crude. But with limited oil storing capacity and the delivery dates nearing on the May contracts, these traders started sell at a loss on last Monday since they couldn't find buyers or physically store the oil.
"We're going to see less paper traders and more physical traders. A lot of paper traders got burnt," says Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
What's the deal with companies running out of room to store oil?
There is only so much space to store crude. It takes years to build up capacity and requires meeting strenuous government regulations. And the world wasn't prepared for a scenario like a pandemic where hard brakes are applied to the global economy.
What will happen when there is no more storage at all?
"Countries will stop producing if no one will take it. And once there is no where to store it, I don't see any other option [than them halting production]," De Haan says.
In the long-term the balance between supply and demand will work itself out, however, WTI could temporarily go negative again before that point.
Will prices go down to zero at the pump?
No, gas stations aren't going to pay you to take their gasoline. However, prices will continue to fall. In fact, Gasbuddy told Fortune on last Tuesday there were six gas stations in Michigan where unleaded gas was going for $0.88 cents per gallon.
"We’re expecting to see prices to continue to decline," says Devin Gladden, a spokesperson for AAA. Even if crude goes negative again, there are other cost including transportation and gas station margins that would keep prices above $0 at the pump. But the current national gasoline price of $1.79 could soon fall under $1.50.