KEY POINTS
- ExxonMobil’s Q4 profit fell 14.6% to $6.5bn due largely to lower crude oil prices and weaker chemical margins.
- The company achieved record production in Guyana and the Permian Basin, marking its highest annual output in 40 years.
- ExxonMobil returned $9.5bn to shareholders in the quarter and reaffirmed confidence in long-term growth prospects.
ExxonMobil has reported a decline in its fourth-quarter earnings, blaming weaker crude oil prices for offsetting gains recorded from higher production volumes.
The US energy giant posted profits of $6.5 billion for the quarter, representing a 14.6 per cent drop compared with the same period last year. Revenue also slipped by 1.3 per cent to $82.3 billion.
Despite the earnings decline, ExxonMobil said it achieved record production levels at the end of 2025 in Guyana and the shale-rich Permian Basin in the United States.
The company noted that these milestones contributed to its highest annual oil and natural gas output in four decades.
Lower Chemical Margins, Startup Costs Hit Results
ExxonMobil attributed part of the earnings decline to weaker chemical margins and costs associated with bringing new projects online.
The company added that lower commodity prices were the primary driver behind the year-on-year profit drop.
ExxonMobil said it successfully delivered all 10 major projects scheduled for completion in 2025, highlighting strong execution across its capital programme.
During the quarter, the company returned $9.5 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, bringing total shareholder distributions for 2025 to more than $37 billion.
