Sinopec Corp's Net Profit for 9M 2018 Surges 52.7% Y-o-Y to RMB 60.1 billion

BEIJING, Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation ("Sinopec Corp." or the "Company"; HKEX: 386; SSE: 600028; NYSE: SNP) today announced its unaudited results for the nine months ended 30 September 2018.

Financial Highlights:

    --  In accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards
        (IFRS), the Company's operating profit was RMB 85.865 billion, up 54.0%
        year-on-year; net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the
        Company was RMB 60.155 billion, up 52.7% year-on-year; basic earnings
        per share ("EPS") were RMB 0.497, up 52.7% year-on-year.
    --  In accordance with China Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises
        ("ASBE"), the Company's operating income was RMB 2,072.970 billion, up
        18.8% year-on-year; net profit attributable to equity shareholders of
        the Company was RMB 59.980 billion, up 56.3% from the same period last
        year; basic earnings per share ("EPS") were RMB 0.495, up 56.3%
        year-on-year.
    --  The Company's financial position continued to improve during the first
        three quarters this year. In accordance with IFRS, its cash and cash
        equivalents at the end of the third quarter were RMB 172.284 billion.

Business Review:

In the first three quarters of 2018, global economy recorded slow recovery, while China's overall economy maintained stable performance and grew steadily with its gross domestic product (GDP) up by 6.7% year-on-year. International crude oil prices fluctuated with upward trend. The average Brent crude oil spot price for the period increased by 39.0% year-on-year. According to the statistics of NDRC, domestic apparent consumption of refined oil products increased by 5.4% compared with the same period last year. Gasoline consumption increased by 6.4% year-on-year, consumption growth for kerosene and diesel was 9.2% and 3.7% year-on-year, respectively. Domestic demand for natural gas remained robust with apparent consumption up by 18.0% compared with the same period last year. Domestic consumption of major chemicals maintained significant growth with consumption of ethylene equivalent up by 7.8% year on year, and gross margin of chemical products remained at a high level. During the reporting period, the Company captured market opportunities and made the product quality as its top priority. It attached great importance to efficiency, focused on improving the quality and efficiency of its operations, strengthened efforts in cost reduction, market expansion, structural adjustment, reform implementation and management reinforcement. Through these efforts, it delivered solid operating results.

Exploration and Production:

Exploration and Production: With the recovery of crude oil price, the Company pursued efficient exploration and effective production to increase proved reserves. Our continuing efforts in exploration paid off with new oil and gas discoveries in Sichuan Basin, Tarim Basin, Yin'e Basin and southern Songliao Basin. In development, we adopted a profit-oriented approach to speed up the crude oil new production. We also accelerated natural gas development by enhancing production-supply-storage-marketing system building to realise synergy along the entire value chain. In the first three quarters, oil and gas production of the Company was 335.34 million barrels of oil equivalent, of which domestic crude oil production increased by 0.2% while natural gas grew by 5.9%. The Exploration and Production Segment's operating loss narrowed by RMB 25.442 billion to RMB 1.081 billion compared with same period last year.



       
              Exploration and Production                            
            
              Unit                                                        For nine-month
                                                                                                                                                          period                       Changes
                                                                                                                                         ended 30 September
                                                                                                                                                                     
            
              (%)

    ---                                                                                                                                                                                 ---

                                             
            
              2018                                                         2017

                                                                  ---                                                                       ---


       
              Oil and gas production (Note 1)                       
            million boe                                            335.34        332.63                            0.8

    ---                                                                                                                                                                                ---


       Crude oil production                                             
            million barrels                                        216.49        220.21                          (1.7)

    ---                                                                                                                                                                                ---


       China                                                            
            million barrels                                        186.50        186.09                            0.2

    ---                                                                                                                                                                                ---


       Overseas                                                         
            million barrels                                         29.82         34.12                         (12.6)

    ---                                                                                                                                                                                ---


       Natural gas production                                           
            billion cubic feet                                     713.77        674.15                            5.9

    ---                                                                                                                                                                                ---


       Realised crude oil price                                         
            USD/barrel                                              65.12         47.05                           38.4

    ---                                                                                                                                                                                ---


       Realised natural gas price                                       
            USD/thousand cubic feet                                  5.91          5.23                           13.0

    ---                                                                                                                                                                                ---



        Note 1: Conversion: for domestic production of crude oil, 1 tonne = 7.10 barrels. For overseas production of crude oil in 2017 1 tonne = 7.21 barrels, in 2018 1 tonne=7.20 barrels. For
         production of natural gas, 1 cubic meter = 35.31 cubic feet. 1 barrel of oil equivalent=6,000 cubic feet.

Refining:

With the market-oriented approach, we optimised product mix to produce more gasoline and jet fuel, and the diesel-to-gasoline ratio further decreased. The GB VI refined oil products quality upgrading was constantly pushed forward. We allocated domestic and overseas resources as a whole and export of refined oil products was increased to help maintain high utilisation of refining facilities. Crude oil sourcing optimisation continued to lower our feedstock cost. We comprehensively optimised our production plans to ensure safe and reliable operations. The advantage of centralised marketing was given full play, and profitability of LPG, asphalt, and sulphur maintained at a high level. In the first three quarters, refinery throughput increased by 3.0% compared with the same period last year. Refined oil products production increased by 3.5%, among which gasoline up by 7.0%, kerosene up by 9.0% and diesel down by 1.8% compared with the same period last year. The Refining Segment realised an operating profit of RMB 54.680 billion, up by 24.7% compared with the same period last year.


                            Refining (Note 2)    
              
                Unit                             For nine-month period   
              
      Changes
                                                                                    ended 30 September
                                                                                                                 
              
                (%)

    ---                                                                                                                                    ---

                 
              
                2018                                 2017

                                          ---                                      ---

               Refinery throughput               
              million tonnes             182.74         177.46                                3.0

    ---                                                                                                                                   ---

               Gasoline, diesel and              
              million tonnes             116.13         112.20                                3.5
    kerosene production

    ---                                                                                                                                   ---


              Gasoline                          
              million tonnes              45.74          42.73                                7.0

    ---                                                                                                                                   ---


              Diesel                            
              million tonnes              48.62          49.50                              (1.8)

    ---                                                                                                                                   ---


              Kerosene                          
              million tonnes              21.77          19.97                                9.0

    ---                                                                                                                                   ---

               Light chemical
                feedstock                        
              million tonnes              29.01          28.54                                1.6

    ---                                                                                                                                   ---

               Light product yield               
              %                           76.11          75.84                               0.27
                                                                                                               
              percentage points

    ---                                                                                                                                   ---

               Refining yield                    
              %                           94.98          94.76                               0.22
                                                                                                               
              percentage points

    ---                                                                                                                                   ---




              Note 2: Including 100% production of domestic joint ventures.

Marketing and Distribution:

Faced with the intensified marketing competition, the Company brought our advantages in integrated operation and distribution network into full play and coordinated internal and external resources. We proactively promoted precision marketing and differentiated marketing to achieve sustained growth in total domestic sales volume and retail business scale. We improved our environmental protection measures for our service station and revamped the storage and transportation facilities of refined oil products. We further promoted integration of fuel business and non-fuel business, perfected the system for self-owned brand products and accelerated the construction of integrated service stations. Our non-fuel business kept increasing rapidly. In the first three quarters, total sales volume of refined oil products was 148 million tonnes. Total domestic sales volume of refined oil products was 135 million tonnes, up by 1.3%. The operating revenues of non-fuel business reached RMB 24.250 billion, up by 13.4% compared with the same period last year. The Marketing and Distribution Segment realised an operating profit of RMB 23.389 billion, basically flat year on year.



       
                Marketing and Distribution                 
     
                Unit                         For nine-month
                                                                                                             period               Changes
                                                                                               ended 30
                                                                                             September
                                                                                                                             (%)

    ---                                                                                                                     ---

                                                       
     
     2018                     2017

                                                            ---                                                               ---


       Total sales volume of refined oil products              
     million tonnes         147.78      150.23                (1.6)

    ---                                                                                                                    ---


       Total domestic sales of refined oil products            
     million tonnes         135.02      133.26                  1.3

    ---                                                                                                                    ---


       Retail                                                  
     million tonnes          90.82       90.67                  0.2

    ---                                                                                                                    ---


       Direct sales & Distribution                             
     million tonnes          44.20       42.60                  3.8

    ---                                                                                                                    ---


       
                Throughput per station (Note 3)            
     tonnes                  3,953       3,935                  0.5

    ---                                                                                                                    ---




       Note 3: Throughput per station was annualised.


                                                                                                 
       Unit: stations


                                                         As of 30 September As of 31 December  
       
          Changes from the
                                                                                                       end of last year to
                                                                       2018               2017                the end of the
                                                                                                      reporting period (%)




       Total number of Sinopec-branded service stations             30,643             30,633                          0.03

    ---


       Number of company-operated stations                          30,637             30,627                          0.03

    ---


       Number of convenience stores                                 26,981             25,775                          4.68

    ---

Chemicals:

With the clients-oriented approach, we provided more products needed by the market through enhancing the dynamic optimisation of facilities and product chains and continued adjusting our product mix to reduce chemical feedstock cost and pressed ahead optimisation of product slate. We improved the coordination among mechanism combining production, marketing, research and application, advance new high-end products development, promotion and application. We put advantages of marketing network into full play and conducted differentiated and tailor-made measures to expand sales scale. We focused on value-added, green, and eco-friendly materials to satisfy clients' requirement on high quality. In the first three quarters, ethylene production reached 8.784 million tonnes, up by 2.9% and chemical sales volume was 64.98 million tonnes, up by 12.8% compared with the same period last year. The differential ratio of synthetic fibre reached 90.4% and ratio of specialty products of synthetic resin reached 64.0%. The Chemicals Segment realised an operating profit of RMB 23.944 billion, up by 43.1% compared with the same period last year.


                                    Chemicals
                                     (Note 4)    
              
                Unit                            For nine-month period        Changes
                                                                                   ended 30 September
                                                                                                                               (%)

    ---                                                                                                                          ---

                 
              
                2018                                 2017

                                          ---                                      ---

        Ethylene                                 
              thousand tonnes            8,784          8,534                       2.9

    ---                                                                                                                         ---

        Synthetic
         resin                                   
              thousand tonnes           12,171         11,791                       3.2

    ---                                                                                                                         ---

        Synthetic
         rubber                                  
              thousand tonnes              646            642                       0.6

    ---                                                                                                                         ---

        Monomers and
         polymers for
         synthetic
         fibre                                   
              thousand tonnes            7,100          7,061                       0.6

    ---                                                                                                                         ---

        Synthetic
         fibre                                   
              thousand tonnes              940            923                       1.8

    ---                                                                                                                         ---




       Note 4: Including 100% production of domestic joint ventures.

Capital Expenditure:

In the first three quarters, total capital expenditures were RMB 48.012 billion. Capital expenditures for the exploration and production segment were RMB 19.761 billion, mainly for oil and gas capacity building, Wen 23 Gas Storage Project, Erdos-Anping-Cangzhou Gas Pipeline Project, the first phase of Xinqi Pipeline Project as well as overseas projects. Capital expenditures for the refining segment were RMB 9.689 billion, mainly for the Zhongke integrated refining and chemical project, product mix optimisation of Zhenhai, Maoming and Tianjin, GB VI gasoline and diesel quality upgrading projects, and crude oil pipeline construction of Rizhao-Puyang-Luoyang as well as other Pipeline Storage & Transportation construction. Capital expenditures for the marketing and distribution segment were RMB 9.712 billion, mainly for constructing refined oil products depots, pipelines and service stations and revamping of underground oil tanks, as well as other safety and environmental protection hazard removal projects. Capital expenditures for the chemicals segment were RMB 6.304 billion, mainly for integrated refining and basic chemical projects of Zhongke, Gulei, high-efficiency and environment-friendly aromatics project in Hainan, Zhong'an United Coal Chemical project and high-end value-added projects of Zhongsha PC, Yangzi EVA and Yizheng high-performance fibre. Capital expenditures for corporate and others were RMB 2.546 billion, mainly for R&D facilities and information technology application projects.



              
                Appendix



              
                Principal financial data and indicators




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




                                                                                                                                                             
       Units: RMB million


                            Items                                As of 30 September                                       As of 31 December                
       
              Changes from the
                                                                               2018                                                     2017                             end of last year to
                                                                                                                                                                          the end of the
                                                                                                                                                                        reporting period
                                                                                                                                                                                     (%)

    ---                                                                                                                                                                                ---

               Total assets                                               1,662,760                                                1,595,504                                             4.2

    ---

               Total equity
                attributable to
                equity                                                      722,317                                                  727,244                                           (0.7)
    shareholders of the Company

    ---



                            Items                                    Nine Months                    
              
                Changes compare
                                                               with the same period
                                                                      last year (%)

    ---

         
              
                2018                                          2017

                                  ---                                  ---

               Net cash flow from
                operating
                activities                                                  137,919                                                  111,193                                            24.0

    ---



               Operating income                                           2,072,970                                                1,744,955                                            18.8

    ---

               Net profit
                attributable to
                equity                                                       59,980                                                   38,373                                            56.3
    shareholders of the Company

    ---

               Net profit
                attributable to
                equity                                                       57,150                                                   36,718                                            55.6
    shareholders of the Company
    excluding extraordinary gains
     and losses

    ---

               Weighted average
                return on net
                assets (%)                                                    8.28                                                     5.37                                            2.91
                                                                                                               
              percentage points

    ---

               Basic earnings per
                share (RMB)                                                   0.495                                                    0.317                                            56.3

    ---

               Diluted earnings
                per share (RMB)                                               0.495                                                    0.317                                            56.3

    ---


                     Extraordinary
                      (gain)/loss items Third Quarter 2018 Nine Months 2018

                                               RMB million      RMB million

    ---

        Net loss/(gain) on
         disposal of non-
         current assets                                143              (75)

    ---


       Donations                                       27                84

    ---

        Government grants                          (1,709)          (3,742)

    ---

        Gains on holding and
         disposal of various
         investments                                 (525)            (993)

    ---

        Other extraordinary
         income and
         expenses, net                                 549               763

    ---

                     Subtotal                      (1,515)          (3,963)

    ---

        Tax effect                                     338               994

    ---

                     Total                         (1,177)          (2,969)

    ---

        Equity shareholders
         of the Company                            (1,021)          (2,830)

    ---

        Minority interests                           (156)            (139)

    ---



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




                                                                                                                                                                        
       Units: RMB million


                                                                                                  As of 30 September                               As of 31 December  
       
              Changes from the
                                                                                                                2018                                             2017               end of last year to
                                                                                                                                                                                     the end of the
                                                                                                                                                                               reporting period (%)

                                                                                                                                                                                                  ---


              Total assets                                                                                1,662,760                                        1,595,504                               4.2

    ---


              Equity attributable to equity                                                                 721,261                                          726,120                             (0.7)
    shareholders of the Company

    ---



                                                                                                      Nine Months                 
              
           Changes compare
                                                                                                       with the same
                                                                                                period last year (%)



                                          
              
                2018                                          2017

                                                                   ---


              Operating profit                                                                               85,865                                           55,757                              54.0

    ---


              Net profit attributable to equity                                                              60,155                                           39,404                              52.7
    shareholders of the Company

    ---


              Basic earnings per share (RMB)                                                                  0.497                                            0.325                              52.7

    ---


              Diluted earnings per share (RMB)                                                                0.497                                            0.325                              52.7

    ---


              Return on net assets (%)                                                                        8.34                                             5.51                              2.83
                                                                                                                                             
         percentage points

    ---


              Net cash generated from                                                                       137,919                                          111,193                              24.0
    operating activities

    ---

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 transportation of petroleum products, petrochemical products, coal chemical products, synthetic fibre 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 Corp. 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 with solid and healthy foundation.

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
                                   
                  : 
     
                
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    ---


       
                Beijing



       Tel: (86 10) 5996 0028                      
     Tel: (86 10) 5996 0028



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     Fax: (8610) 5996 0386



       Email: ir@sinopec.com                       
     Email: ir@sinopec.com





       
                Hong Kong



       Tel: (852) 2824 2638                        
     Tel: (852) 2522 1838



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       Email: ir@sinopechk.com                     
     Email: sinopec@prchina.com.hk

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