據道瓊斯7月31日消息，雪佛龍公司周五公布第二季度利潤為31億美元，這是該公司一年來最強勁的季度業績，原因是數月來大宗商品價格上漲提振了這家石油公司。

　　這家總部位于加州圣拉蒙的公司的季度業績較去年同期有了顯著改善。去年同期，由于全球經濟在新冠疫情封鎖期間陷入停滯，雪佛龍報告了83億美元的虧損。

　　雪佛龍今年第一季度凈利潤為14億美元。該公司上一次報告利潤增長是在2020年第一季度。

　　隨著經濟重新開放，刺激了需求，石油和天然氣行業今年已經復蘇。自今年3月以來，美國油價基本保持在60美元/桶以上，此前在2020年4月曾短暫處于負值，去年大部分時間都低于50美元/桶。

　　這種復蘇幫助化石燃料行業從2020年前所未有的損失中復蘇。本周早些時候，歐洲兩家最大的石油公司公布了強勁的季度業績。荷蘭皇家殼牌公司公布二季度凈利潤55億美元，而道達爾能源公司公布利潤35億美元。

　　盡管情況有所改善，雪佛龍表示不會增加資本支出。雪佛龍在2021年前6個月的資本支出為53億美元，而去年前6個月為77億美元。

　　雪佛龍首席財務官Pierre Breber表示，投資者希望石油公司將現金返還給他們，而不是將其再投資于增加油氣產量。Breber表示，許多投資者仍對石油生產商遵守資本紀律的承諾表示懷疑，尤其是在大宗商品價格不斷上漲的情況下。

　　張春曉 摘譯自 道瓊斯

　　原文如下：

　　Chevron Posts Highest Profit in a Year as Oil Demand Rebounds

　　Chevron Corp. on Friday reported $3.1 billion in second-quarter profit, its strongest results in a year as the oil company was buoyed by months of higher commodity prices.

　　The San Ramon, Calif.-based company's quarterly results were a dramatic improvement from the same period last year, when Chevron reported an $8.3 billion loss as the global economy ground to a halt during world-wide Covid-19 lockdowns.

　　Chevron reported $1.4 billion in net income in the first quarter of this year. The last time the company reported larger profits was in the first quarter of 2020.

　　The oil-and-gas industry has recovered this year as economies have reopened, spurring demand. U.S. oil prices have mostly stayed above $60 a barrel since March, after briefly turning negative in April 2020 and remaining below $50 for most of last year.

　　The recovery has helped the fossil-fuel industry rebound from unprecedented losses in 2020. Two of the largest European oil companies reported strong quarterly results earlier in the week. Royal Dutch Shell PLC reported $5.5 billion in net income, while TotalEnergies SE posted $3.5 billion in profits.

　　Despite the improving conditions, Chevron said it wouldn't increase its capital spending. Chevron had $5.3 billion in capital expenditures in the first six months of 2021, compared with $7.7 billion in the first six months of last year.

　　Chevron Chief Financial Officer Pierre Breber said investors want big oil companies to return cash to them, not reinvest it in increasing oil and gas production. Many investors still question oil producers' commitment to capital discipline, according to Mr. Breber, especially with rising commodity prices.