据路透社7月13日报道，美国海关部门7月13日公布的统计数据显示，美国炼油商上季度进口西非原油的速度为近三年来最高，由于美国炼油商提高车用燃料油产量以满足夏季驾驶需求，他们为此增加购买对汽油有利的西非原油。

美国海关和船舶跟踪数据显示，美国——主要是PBF能源公司、菲利普斯66公司和Monroe能源公司的东海岸炼油业务——第二季度从西非国家的原油进口至少为1160万桶，这是自2019年第三季度以来的最高水平。

尽管尼日利亚的Qua Iboe和Yoho原油价格触及创纪录水平，但美国进口仍有所上升。本季度Qua Iboe原油价格比布伦特原油平均溢价4.20美元。

美国的汽油需求已经攀升。根据美国能源信息署的最新数据，美国成品车用汽油的日消费量达到940万桶，为2021年底以来的最高水平。美国东海岸的汽油价格为每加仑4.50至5美元。

美国5月份西非原油进口量激增，达到520万桶，比4月份增加了一倍多。轻质原油——比如来自西非的轻质原油——通常能比重质原油生产更多的汽油。 

李峻 编译自 路透社

原文如下：

U.S. refiners step up imports of gasoline-friendly West African crude

U.S. refiners last quarter imported West African oil at the highest rate in nearly three years, customs data showed, buying the gasoline-friendly crudes as they boosted motor fuel production to meet summer driving demand.

imports from West African nations, primarily by East Coast operations of PBF Energy, Phillips 66 and Monroe Energy, were at least 11.6 MM barrels in the second quarter, U.S. customs and ship-tracking data on Refinitiv Eikon showed, the highest since the third quarter of 2019.

imports rose even as prices for Nigeria's Qua Iboe and Yoho crudes touched record levels. Qua Iboe averaged a $4.20 premium to dated Brent in the quarter.

U.S. gasoline demand has climbed. Consumption of finished motor gasoline reached 9.4 MM barrels per day, the highest since the end of 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. East Coast gas prices were $4.50 to $5 per gallon.

West African imports spiked in May with 5.2 MM barrels being discharged in the United States, more than doubling from April. Light oil, like that from West Africa, typically produces a greater percentage of gasoline than heavy oil.