Aramco, Saudi Arabia's state oil company, as well as the world's largest, suffered in the second quarter a decrease of almost 38% compared to last year in profit due to the fall in oil prices and the reduction of profit margins. refining and chemicals. The benefit was 30,070 million dollars, about 27,470 million euros, as announced on Monday.
Most oil majors posted high or record profits a year ago, with which it compares, after Western sanctions against Russia, the main exporter, put pressure on the market, causing oil and gas prices to rise.
By way of example, the Brent barrel, a reference in Europe, has fallen from 113 dollars a barrel a year ago to the current 85, hit by concerns about an economic slowdown and abundant supplies, although Moscow and Riyadh they have been trying to prop up prices.
Oil futures are now at their highest level since April, after Saudi Arabia and Russia pledged to keep supplies low for a month.
In this way, in the first six months of the year it earned 60,361 million dollars, or 55,000 million euros, 28.3% less. Revenues up to June totaled 242,174 million dollars (218,888 million euros), 22% less.
Despite the decrease, the oil company has confirmed the dividend of more than 19,510 million dollars, about 18,000 million euros, for the second quarter, 4% more than in the previous year. It has also announced the start of a dividend linked to performance that will be distributed as of the third quarter, starting with a payment of about 9,900 million dollars.
"Our medium and long-term vision has not changed. With an expected recovery in the world economy in general, together with increased activity in aviation, it will be necessary to continue investing in energy projects to safeguard energy security," he said in a statement. Aramco CEO Amin Nasser.
