据路透社2月21日新加坡报道， 澳大利亚对欧洲廉价汽油供应的日益偏好可能会继续鼓励韩国汽车燃料生产商将其出口业务多样化到美洲，而这些公司也可能会因为支付更高的保费而倾向于将货物运往日本。
在过去十年中，澳大利亚一直是韩国五大精炼石油产品出口国之一，但自去年下半年以来，澳元大幅下跌，促使大洋洲消费者在最近几个季度积极寻求在传统亚洲市场以外更便宜的汽车燃料。
根据澳大利亚政府环境与能源部(Department of the Environment and Energy)发布的数据，在2018年1月至11月期间，澳大利亚最大的三家汽油供应商分别是韩国、新加坡和欧洲。该部门援引澳大利亚统计局(Australian Bureau of Statistics)的数据作为贸易信息的来源。
数据显示，欧洲在澳大利亚市场的份额为19.94%，2018年1 - 11月进口量为723万桶，较2017年同期的0.01%呈指数级增长。
另一方面，考虑到进口1,040万桶原油，韩国的份额为28.7%，较上年同期的36.9%大幅下降。
自2018年下半年以来，欧洲汽油市场一直疲软。近几个月来，由于国内供应充足，西非和美国的传统买家逐渐减少了需求，这给市场带来了越来越大的压力。
由于对西方的套利机会有限，欧洲供应商已被迫将目光投向东方，寻找替代路线。消息人士指出，澳大利亚在这方面是一个有利的目的地，特别是随着该国接近寒冷的几个月，预计对冬季汽油的需求将增加。
“欧洲市场目前表现不佳，尤其是西非的需求不太强劲。一位市场消息人士表示，欧洲企业正打算将货物转移到任何一个有销路的地方。
韩国石油工业协会(Korea Petroleum Association)驻首尔的一名高级官员表示:“澳大利亚是韩国炼油商的关键市场，该国对韩国石油产品的需求不断下降，将给汽油生产商带来压力，迫使它们在其他地方增加产量，或扩大新闻市场。”
尹路 编译自 普氏能源资讯
原文如下：
South Korean Gasoline Suppliers Shift Focus To Americas From Australia
Australia's growing preference for cheaper gasoline supply from Europe will likely continue encouraging South Korean auto fuel producers to diversify their export outlets to the Americas, while the companies may also favor sending cargoes to Japan due to higher premiums it pays.
Australia has been a consistent top five refined oil products export outlet for South Korea over the past decade, but the sharp downturn in the Australian dollar since the early second half last year has prompted the Oceania consumer to actively seek cheaper auto fuels outside the traditional Asian market in recent few quarters.
Australia's top three gasoline suppliers over January-November 2018 were South Korea, Singapore and Europe, according to data released by the Australian government's Department of the Environment and Energy, which cited Australian Bureau of Statistics as the source of the trade information.
Europe's share of the Australian market was 19.94% with import volumes of 7.23 million barrels over January-November 2018, rising exponentially from 0.01% in the same period in 2017, the data showed.
On the other hand, South Korea's share stood at 28.7% given imports of 10.40 million barrels, a sharp decline from 36.9% in the same period a year earlier.
The European gasoline market has stayed persistently weak since H2 2018, with pressure mounting in recent months as traditional buyers in West Africa and the US have tapered down demand due to ample domestic supply.
As a result of the limited arbitrage opportunities to the West, European suppliers have been prompted to look east for alternative routes. Sources have pointed at Australia as a favorable destination in this regard especially as demand for winter-grade gasoline is expected to increase as the country approaches the colder months.
"The European market is not doing very well now especially as demand from West Africa is not very strong. European players are in a mood to push cargoes away to whichever outlet is available," one market source said.
"Australia is the key market for South Korean refiners and its faltering demand for Korean oil products will put pressure on the gasoline producers to push barrels elsewhere or expand news markets," a senior official at Korea Petroleum Association based in Seoul said.
