Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Aramco on Sunday disclosed that its second-quarter profits nearly quadrupled compared to the same period last year.
Gatekeepers News reports that Sunday’s report surpassed analysts’ expectations amid a significant rise in oil prices and demand recovery.
Oil prices, boosted by output cuts made by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, a group known as OPEC+, closed at $70.70 a barrel on Friday and has gained over 35 percent since the start of the year.
Aramco attributed its results to the global easing of COVID-19 restrictions, vaccination campaigns, stimulus measures and accelerating economic activity in key markets.
“Our second quarter results reflect a strong rebound in worldwide energy demand and we are heading into the second half of 2021 more resilient and more flexible, as the global recovery gains momentum,” Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said in a statement.
Aramco’s net profit rose to 95.47 billion riyals ($25.46 billion) for the quarter to June 30 from 24.62 billion riyals a year earlier.
Analysts had expected a net profit of $23.2 billion, according to the mean estimate from five analysts.
Aramco’s CEO told an earnings call that global oil demand was expected to hit 99 million barrels a day by the end of the year and 100 million barrels next year, Aramco is still working to increase its own capacity to 13 million barrels day, Nasser said, reiterating a plan announced last year.
Gatekeepers News reports that Aramco joins other oil majors who have reported strong results in recent weeks.
Last month, Exxon Mobil said its net income for the second quarter came in at $4.69 billion, or $1.10 per share, compared with a loss of $1.08 billion, or 26 cents per share, a year ago.
Royal Dutch Shell reported its highest quarterly profit in more than two years, with adjusted earnings at $5.53 billion, compared with earnings of $638 million a year earlier.
