談到汽油和柴油時，大家總愛討論「加油站的油價」。畢竟，無論是為私人車輛加油，還是為營運所需的車輛加油，這項價格都會對各行各業的產品與服務成本產生重大影響。但究竟是什麼因素決定了汽油和柴油的價格？《經濟學概論》教導我們，商品價格是由市場供需的互動所決定的。然而，究竟是什麼因素實際影響了加油站的油價？

影響天然氣價格的主要因素

Four main factors determine the price of fuel: crude oil prices, the cost of refining, distribution & marketing, and taxes. The supply of crude oil is by far the most significant variable, comprising over 40% of the costs for diesel and over 50% of gasoline{1}. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, better known as OPEC, has tremendous influence over the global supply of oil. This is because OPEC controls about 80% of the world's oil reserves{2]. However, as recent events show, other non-OPEC producers like Russia can affect the supply.

Refining

Refining is the process that converts crude oil into gasoline, diesel, and other oil derivatives. This determines roughly 20% - 25% of the price of gasoline. Refining costs will vary depending on the product, e.g., low-sulfur highway diesel, ethanol-blended summer formulations, additives, etc. Distribution and marketing (10% - 20%) involve transporting the finished products from the refineries to the regional and local distribution points throughout the country via pipelines, railcars, and trucks. Taxes make up the remaining 12% to 14%.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the price at the pump, or how much you pay to fill up your car or truck, is determined primarily by the global supply and demand for crude oil. However, how far away you are from a refinery and the state you live in (Pennsylvania has the highest gas tax at $0.57/gallon, Alaska has the lowest at $0.08/gallon){3} will also have a significant impact.

來源：

1 -https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/
2 -https://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/data_graphs/330.htm
3 -https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2022/06/22/拜登推動燃油稅暫停期間，這些州的燃油稅最高與最低是哪些？/?sh=7dec0d5b2e06