omniture

Sinopec 2016 First Quarter's Net Profit Increases Over 200% YoY

Integrated Business Model Gives Full Play As Mid - and Down-stream
Earnings Surges

BEIJING, April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation ("Sinopec Corp." or the "Company")(HKEX: 386; SSE: 600028; NYSE: SNP) today announced its unaudited results for the three months ended 31 March 2016.

Financial Highlights

  • Amid low oil prices, the Company's mid- and down-stream segments became the main profit growth drivers. Operating profits from Refining, Marketing and Distribution, and Chemical segments all recorded significant growth compared to the same period last year, reflecting its integrated advantages.
  • In accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the Company's operating profit was RMB 13.06 billion, up by 153.4% year-on-year. Profit for the period was RMB 9.56 billion, increased by 267.7% year-on-year. Net profit attributable to owners of the Company was RMB 6.66 billion, increased by 206.8% year-on-year. Basic earnings per share (EPS) were RMB 0.055.
  • In accordance with China Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises (ASBE), the Company's operating profit was RMB 12.31 billion, significantly increased by four fold year-on-year. Net profit was RMB 9.03 billion, increased by 355.8% year-on-year. Net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company was RMB 6.19 billion, increased by 267.1% year-on-year. Basic earnings per share (EPS) were RMB 0.051.
  • The Company's financial position continued to improve during the first quarter. In accordance with IFRS, the Company's net cash flow from operating activities was RMB 34.35 billion, increased by 414.0% year-on-year. Net cash used in investing activities decreased RMB 11.81 billion compared to same period last year. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first quarter was RMB 63.15 billion. Liabilities-to-assets ratio at the end of the first quarter was 43.11%, down by 2.55 percentage points from the year end of 2015.

Business Review:

In the first quarter of 2016, focusing on the growth of quality and profitability, the Company intensified its evaluation of macro-economy and market trends and actively responded to these changes. The Company emphasised on reform and innovation, stringent management and tight coordination of all aspects of work.

Exploration and Production:

Through projects optimization and implementation of a flexible investment decision-making mechanism in response to oil price fluctuations, the Company reduced its high-cost oil production. In exploration, the Company actively carried forward high-efficiency exploration activities, making a number of discoveries in Sichuan Basin, Ordos Basin, and Central Tahe Basin. In terms of development, the Company achieved steady progress in development of Fuling shale gas field (phase II), optimised development programs in mature oilfields and increased development in frontier acreages. In the first quarter, the oil and gas production of the Company was 114.7 million barrels of oil equivalent, declined by 2.7%, out of which crude oil output down by 9.3% while natural gas up by 16.7%, compared with the same period last year. Impacted by the sustained low crude oil prices, Exploration and Production Segment had an operating loss of RMB 12.53 billion.

Refining:

The Company adjusted the product mix in response to market demand by increasing production of gasoline and kerosene, maintained safe and stable refinery operations and upgraded refined oil products quality as scheduled. The Company optimised resource allocation, controlled costs and took advantage of its strong economies of scale. By tapping well-established advantages in specialisation, the Company improved its profit margins in LPG, etc. In the first quarter, refinery throughput decreased by 2.4% and refined oil products production dropped by 1.4%, among which gasoline up by 4.7%, jet fuel up by 4.5% and diesel down by 8.0% over the same period last year. Benefited from product mix optimisation and the refined oil product pricing mechanism improvement, Refining Segment had an operating profit of RMB 13.44 billion, a reversal from the loss-making situation in the same period last year.

Marketing and Distribution:

In response to the changes in supply and demand of refined oil products, the Company optimised resource allocation and adjusted its marketing strategies and promoted the sales of high-octane gasoline and high-value-added products. In the transformation from a fuel supplier to a comprehensive service provider, the Company optimised marketing network and reinforced mutual promotion between fuel and non-fuel businesses. As a result, total retail volume and throughput per station sustained growth despite of intense market competition. In the first quarter, total sales volume of refined oil products was 47.21 million tonnes, up by 1.6% over the same period last year. Total domestic sales volume of refined oil products was 43.29 million tonnes, up by 3.0%, of which retail volume reached 29.66 million tonnes, up by 2.6% over the same period last year. Transaction of non-fuel business reached RMB 8.91 billion, up by 41.4% compared with the same period last year. The operating profit of Marketing and Distribution Segment was RMB 7.69 billion, up by 45.6% compared with the same period last year.

Chemicals:

The Company fine-tuned its feedstock mix to lower costs and enhanced the operations of its production facilities by adjusting utilisation rates based on marginal profitability, while keeping sustained safe and stable operations. The Company strengthened the links among research and development, production, marketing and sales of new products, and increased production of high-value-added products tailored to market demands. In the first quarter, ethylene production reached 2.82 million tonnes, up by 2.0% and chemical sales volume was 15.62 million tonnes, up by 6.7% over the same period last year. Benefited from feedstock mix and product slate adjustment, decreased feedstock costs and upgraded competitiveness of naphtha-based chemicals, the operating profit of Chemicals Segment was RMB 4.58 billion, up by 49.3% compared with the same period last year.

Capital expenditure:

The Company's capital expenditures were RMB 5.53 billion in the first quarter. Capital expenditures for exploration and production segment were RMB 1.34 billion, mainly for development in Fuling shale gas field, construction of LNG terminals in Guangxi and Tianjin, and construction of long-distance gas pipelines such as the Jinan-Qingdao gas pipeline (phase II), as well as development in overseas projects. Capital expenditures for refining segment were RMB 1.40 billion, mainly for gasoline and diesel quality upgrading projects and refinery revamping. Capital expenditures for marketing and distribution segment were RMB 1.23 billion, mainly for revamping service stations and building refined oil product pipelines, oil depots and storage facilities, as well as for hazard rectification. Capital expenditures for chemicals segment were RMB 1.53 billion, mainly for coal chemical projects, comprehensive utilisation of resources project and auxiliary facilities construction project.

Summary of Principal Operating Results for the First Quarter

Appendix

Operating data

Unit

For three-month period ended 31 March

Changes

(%)

2016

2015

Exploration and production

Oil and gas production1

million boe

114.68

117.82

(2.67)

Crude oil production

million barrels

79.42

87.55

(9.29)

China

million barrels

66.35

74.01

(10.35)

Overseas

million barrels

13.07

13.54

(3.47)

Natural gas production

billion cubic feet

211.36

181.06

16.73

Realized crude oil price

USD/barrel

27.06

46.22

(41.45)

Realized natural gas price

USD/thousand cubic feet

5.47

7.94

(31.11)

Refining2

Refinery throughput

million tonnes

57.18

58.58

(2.39)

Gasoline, diesel and kerosene production

million tonnes

36.33

36.85

(1.41)


Gasoline

million tonnes

13.92

13.29

4.74


Diesel

million tonnes

16.32

17.74

(8.00)


Kerosene incl. jet fuel

million tonnes

6.08

5.82

4.47

Light chemical feedstock

million tonnes

9.74

9.43

3.29

Light product yield

%

77.05

76.68

0.37

percentage points

Refining yield

%

94.93

94.69

0.24 percentage points

Marketing and Distribution

Total sales of refined oil products

million tonnes

47.21

46.49

1.55

Total domestic sales of refined oil products

million tonnes

43.29

42.05

2.95


Retail

million tonnes

29.66

28.90

2.63


Direct sales & Distribution

million tonnes

13.63

13.15

3.65

Total number of Sinopec-branded service stations3

stations

30,636

30,560

0.25


Company-operated

stations

30,623

30,547

0.25

Throughput per station4

tonnes

3,879

3,786

2.46

Chemicals2

Ethylene

thousand tonnes

2,823

2,768

1.99

Synthetic resin

thousand tonnes

3,840

3,786

1.43

Synthetic rubber

thousand tonnes

205

213

(3.76)

Monomers and polymers for synthetic fiber

thousand tonnes

2,328

2,128

9.40

Synthetic fiber

thousand tonnes

311

311

0

Note:

1.   Conversion: for domestic production of crude oil, 1 tonne = 7.1 barrels; for overseas production of crude oil, 1 tonne=7.21 barrels; for production of natural gas, 1 cubic meter = 35.31 cubic feet.

2.   Including 100% production of joint ventures.

3.   The number of service stations in 2015 was the number as of 31 December 2015.
4.   Throughput per station was annualized.

Principal financial data and indicators

Principal financial data and indicators prepared in accordance with China Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises (ASBE) 

Units: RMB million  


As of 31 March 2016

As of 31 December 2015

Changes from the end of the preceding year to the end of the reporting period (%)

Total assets

1,397,688

1,443,129

(3.1)

Total equity attributable to equity shareholders of the Company

686,286

675,370

1.6

 


Three months

Changes over the same period of the preceding year (%)

2016

2015

Net cash flow from operating activities

34,348

6,682

414.0


Operating income

413,790

478,241

(13.5)

Net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company

6,185

1,685

267.1

Net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company excluding extraordinary gains and losses

6,404

1,336

379.3

Weighted average return on net assets (%)

0.91

0.27

0.64

 percentage points

Basic earnings per share (RMB)

0.051

0.014

264.3

Diluted earnings per share (RMB)

0.051

0.014

264.3

 

Extraordinary gain/loss items

During the reporting period

(gains)/lossesRMB million

Net loss on disposal of non-current assets

5

Donations

6

Government grants

(229)

Loss on holding and disposal of various investments

155

Other extraordinary income and expenses, net

327

Subtotal

264

Tax effect

(31)

Total

233

Equity shareholders of the Company

219

Minority interests

14

Principal financial data and indicators prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting standards (IFRS)

Units: RMB million


As of 31 March 2016

As of 31 December 2015

Changes from the end
of the preceding year to
the end of the reporting period (%)

Total assets

1,397,688

1,443,129

(3.1)

Total equity attributable to owners of the Company

684,972

674,029

1.6

 



Three months

Changes over the
same period of the
preceding year (%)

2016

2015

Net cash generated from operating activities

34,348

6,682

414.0


Operating profit

13,057

5,153

153.4

Net profit attributable to owners of the Company

6,663

2,172

206.8

Basic earnings per share (RMB)

0.055

0.018

205.6

Diluted earnings per share (RMB)

0.055

0.018

205.6

Return on net assets (%)

0.97

0.32

0.65

percentage points

About Sinopec Corp.

Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest integrated energy and chemical companies in China. Its principal operations include the exploration and production, pipeline transportation and sale of petroleum and natural gas; the sale, storage and ransportation of petroleum products, petrochemical products, coal chemical products, synthetic fibre, fertiliser and other chemical products; the import and export, including an import and export agency business, of petroleum, natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemical and chemical products, and other commodities and technologies; and research, development and application of technologies and information.

Sinopec sets 'fueling beautiful life' as its corporate mission, puts 'people, responsibility, integrity, precision, innovation and win-win' as its corporate core values, pursues strategies of value-orientation, innovation-driven development, integrated resource allocation, open cooperation, and green and low-carbon growth, and strives to achieve its corporate vision of building a world leading energy and chemical company.

Disclaimer

This press release includes "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical facts that address activities, events or developments that Sinopec Corp. expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including but not limited to projections, targets, reserve volume, other estimates and business plans) are forward-looking statements. Sinopec Corp.'s actual results or developments may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including but not limited to the price fluctuation, possible changes in actual demand, foreign exchange rate, results of oil exploration, estimates of oil and gas reserves, market shares, competition, environmental risks, possible changes to laws, finance and regulations, conditions of the global economy and financial markets, political risks, possible delay of projects, government approval of projects, cost estimates and other factors beyond Sinopec Corp.'s control. In addition, Sinopec Corp. makes the forward-looking statements referred to herein as of today and undertakes no obligation to update these statements.

Investor Inquiries                                                 

Media Inquiries

Beijing


Tel:(86 10) 5996 0028                                   


Fax:(86 10) 5996 0386                                  


Email:ir@sinopec.com                                   




Hong Kong


Tel:(852) 2824 2638                                      

Tel:(852) 2522 1838

Fax:(852) 2824 3669                                     

Fax:(852) 2521 9955

Email:ir@sinopechk.com                               

Email:sinopec@prchina.com.hk


Source: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation
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