据全球石油新闻网2019年10月30日纽约报道，除了最大限度地提高柴油产量和运行更轻、含硫量更少的原油外，美国的炼油企业还在寻找调和组分油和原料，以便在2020年前生产和销售自己的低硫船用燃料。
根据国际海事组织的规定，在新年伊始，船用燃料油中的硫含量将从3.5%转变到0.5%，这一转变让一些炼油商感到恐慌，但也给其它炼油商带来了机遇，尤其是那些在美国墨西哥湾沿岸拥有高复杂性焦化厂的炼油商。
由于炼油商们在IMO 2020之前寻求混合自己的船用燃料并为运货商打上自己产品的品牌，他们时下正在寻找各种原油，包括调和组分油和原料。与不那么复杂的厂相比，炼焦厂拥有另一个优势。
他们正在寻找的一种燃料是高硫燃料油（HSFO），即今天的船用燃料油。在美国，HSFO产量一直在下降，但它仍是不太复杂的炼油厂的副产品。根据美国能源信息署(EIA)的统计数据，在截至10月25日的4周内，平均日产量为34.4万桶，其中一些进入了出口市场。EIA数据显示，2019年7月出口了440万桶。
李峻 编译自 全球石油新闻
原文如下：
US refiners increase HSFO throughput as IMO 2020 nears
In addition to maximizing diesel production and running lighter, sweeter crudes, US refiners are looking to blendstocks and feedstocks as they create and market their own low-sulfur marine fuel ahead of 2020.
This switch from 3.5% sulfur to 0.5% sulfur in bunker fuel at the start of the new year, as mandated by the International Maritime Organization, has created consternation for some refiners and opportunity for others, particularly those with high-complexity coking plants along the US Gulf Coast.
As refiners look to blend and brand their own marine fuel for shippers ahead of IMO 2020, they are looking to all parts of the barrel, including blendstocks and feedstocks, giving refiners with cokers yet another advantage over less-sophisticated plants.
One fuel they are looking at is HSFO, today's bunker fuel. HSFO, or residual fuel, production has been declining in the US, but it remains a byproduct of less-sophisticated refineries. During the four weeks ended October 25, production averaged 344,000 b/d, according to US Energy Information Administration data, with some going to the export market. EIA data showed 4.4 million barrels were exported in July 2019.
