据OGJ 5月20日休斯顿报道，纽约和伦敦市场的油价5月17日双双下跌，结束了连续三个交易日的上涨。分析人士将油价下跌归因于地区关系紧张加剧，以及对中东地区石油运输可能中断的担忧加剧。
与此同时，石油投资者和分析师等着看沙特阿拉伯和其他主要产油国是否会将减产目标延长至6月份以后。
5月19日，石油输出国组织和包括俄罗斯在内的一些非欧佩克成员国在沙特阿拉伯吉达举行会议，讨论石油产量水平。
欧佩克及其盟友将在6月的维也纳会议上最终决定。该集团于2018年12月同意将日产量削减120万桶。5月19日，沙特能源部长哈立德·法利赫(Khalid al-Falih)告诉记者，各方讨论了不同的生产方案。
哈立德·法利赫称，对多数石油部长而言，"能够产生共鸣的情况是‘推迟’产量目标，并补充称，部长们"倾向于'等待'的立场"，因他们在监控全球石油需求。
俄罗斯能源部长亚历山大·诺瓦克(Alexander Novak)告诉记者，“我们正在考虑(2019年下半年的)各种选择。”
会议召开之际，人们对中东可能发生军事冲突的担忧不断升级。
薛珂 摘译自 OGJ原文如下：
MARKET WATCH: Oil benchmarks drop ahead of OPEC meeting
Oil prices dropped on both the New York and London markets May 17, ending three sessions of gains. Analysts attributed the price drop to heightened the tensions and rising concerns about possible disruptions to oil shipments across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, oil investors and analysts waited to see if Saudi Arabia and other major oil producers will extend production-cut targets beyond June.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and some non-OPEC countries, including Russia, met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 19 to discuss production levels during an OPEC Monitoring Committee meeting.
A decision will be finalized by OPEC and its allies during a June meeting in Vienna. The group agreed in December 2018 to cut output by a total of 1.2 million b/d. On May 19, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters that different production scenarios were discussed.
For most oil ministers, the scenario “that resonates is to roll over” production targets, al-Falih said, adding ministers “prefer the ‘wait’ position,” as they monitor world oil demand.
Russia Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters, “We are looking at various options [for the second half of 2019].”
The meeting came amid escalating concerns of a possible military conflict in the Middle East.