Chinese energy executives are projecting that the country’s oil consumption will plunge by 25 per cent this month as the deadly coronavirus outbreak paralyses travel and shuts down industrial activity in the world’s second-biggest economy.
中国能源行业高管预计，本月中国石油需求将下降25%，原因是致命的新型冠状病毒疫情使人们无法出行，同时世界第二大经济体的一部分工业活动停摆。
Executives at some of the country’s largest refineries expect that nationwide demand will fall by a staggering 3.2m barrels a day in February from last year — a drop equivalent to more than 3 per cent of global consumption.
中国一些大型炼油厂的高管预计，2月份全国石油需求量将同比减少每日320万桶——这一下降令人震惊，因为它相当于全球石油消费量的3%以上。
Oil prices have already crashed on expectations of plunging demand as the Chinese authorities quarantined cities, restricted air and road travel, and extended factory closures following the lunar new year holiday.
随着中国各部门实施“封城”、限制航空和公路出行，并推迟春节假期后的复工时间，预计的石油需求大幅下降此前已导致油价大跌。
But the projections of senior executives in China — the world’s top oil importer — are likely to undermine market confidence further.
但作为全球最大的石油进口国，中国高管的预测可能进一步削弱市场信心。