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By Sheila Dang and Shariq Khan
HOUSTON – Huge Oil executives this week noticed little prospect of a near-term enchancment in refinery income after Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Shell all reported fourth-quarter earnings that had been hit onerous by a downturn within the margins for producing gas.
A rise in world refining capability in 2024, mixed with sputtering demand progress has harm refining margins.
Chevron’s shares declined 4% after it reported a loss in its refining enterprise for the primary time since 2020, inflicting the No. 2 U.S. oil producer to overlook Wall Road’s revenue estimate.
“This development we now have seen of margins softening via 2024 is one thing you’ll be able to anticipate to proceed to see, to increase into 2025,” Chevron CEO Mike Wirth stated in an interview.
“It was a weak fourth-quarter, there is not any doubt about it,” he stated on a post-earnings convention name in response to a query from an analyst concerning the refining downturn.
“I am not going to name it an ideal storm, however it was 1 / 4 during which the whole lot went a method and it was destructive.”
Wirth stated Chevron would deal with what it could management with the intention to bounce again, together with lighter scheduled upkeep for refineries over the following yr.
Exxon Mobil’s shares fell 2.5% after it reported a 75% plunge in adjusted earnings from refining in contrast with the third quarter. The broader S&P 500 Power Sector index was down 2.8% on Friday.
The refining enterprise stays underneath stress from extra gas provide coming into the market after new refineries opened in several nations around the globe, stated Exxon’s Chief Monetary Officer Kathryn Mikells in an interview.
“That is actually what we’re watching as we stay up for 2025,” she stated.
The No. 1 U.S. oil producer nonetheless beat revenue estimates with larger manufacturing from the Permian basin, the highest U.S. oilfield, and Guyana, the newest oil hotspot.
UK-based Shell stated on Thursday that whereas it had no plans to exit the refining enterprise, it didn’t plan to develop both.
The corporate’s fourth-quarter earnings almost halved from the earlier yr to $3.66 billion, partly attributable to weaker refining margins.
Shell offered its refining and chemical compounds hub in Singapore final yr and plans to close down one other plant in Wesseling, Germany.
HIT TO INDEPENDENT REFINERS
Whereas larger oil and gasoline manufacturing helped cushion oil majors from the influence of decrease refining income, the pure-play refiners took successful as gas demand faltered within the U.S. and China, the 2 largest oil customers.
Phillips 66’s fourth quarter revenue plummeted to $8 million from $1.26 billion within the year-ago quarter. Valero’s refining revenue dropped 73% within the fourth quarter.
