DUBAI: Saudi Arabian state oil giant Aramco on Tuesday reported a 25% fall in first-quarter net profit, below analyst estimates, hurt by lower crude oil prices as the coronavirus slashed demand.
Net profit fell to 62.48 billion riyals (RM72 bil) after zakat and tax for the quarter to March 31 from 83.29 billion a year earlier.
Analysts had expected a profit of US$17.8 bil (RM77 bil), according to the mean estimate from Egyptian investment bank EFG-Hermes, Saudi Arabia’s Al Rajhi Capital and Dubai-based Arqaam Capital.
Aramco said the results reflected “lower crude oil prices, as well as declining refining and chemicals margins and inventory re-measurement losses.”
Brent crude prices fell 65% in the first quarter, before OPEC+ producers agreed to cut oil supply by a record 9.7 million barrel per day starting from May to help shore up prices and curb oversupply. – May 12, 2020, Reuters
