Profits for the first six months of the year plunged to €19.7 billion (£17.77 billion), half of last year’s €39.8 billion (£35.9 billion) for the same time period.
The results were announced as Aramco’s second quarter earnings dipped to €5.6 billion (£5.05 billion) compared with €20.9 billion (£18.9 billion) during the same time last year, reflecting a staggering 73 per cent drop.
The majority state-owned company’s financial health is crucial to Saudi Arabia’s stability.
Despite massive efforts by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia still depends heavily on oil exports to fuel government spending.
The price of Brent crude hovers just under €38 (45 dollars) a barrel, significantly less than before the pandemic but up from a low of around €17 (21 dollars) a barrel in April.
Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser acknowledged the company’s finances were impacted by “strong headwinds from reduced demand and lower oil prices” sparked by the pandemic, which halted flights around the world and plunged economies into recession, including Saudi Arabia’s.
The company said it will uphold its commitment to pay out dividends of €15.9 billion (£14.3 billion) for the second quarter as part of its promise to pay €63.6 billion (£57.4 billion) in annual dividends.
Mr Nasser described Aramco’s half-year earnings as “solid” and credited the company’s low production costs and operational strength, which helped it to maintain its promised dividend payments.
Aramco was knocked out of its top spot as the world’s most valuable listed company by Apple in recent days.
Its stock price gained a little on Sunday, trading at around €7 (33 riyals or £6.74) a share.
At its highest, Aramco traded above €8.48 (£7.66) a share in December and at its lowest slipped to €6.10 (£5.51) a share in March.
We are determined to emerge from the pandemic stronger
Looking ahead, Mr Nasser said the energy market is seeing a partial recovery as countries around the world ease restrictions and reboot their economies.
“We are determined to emerge from the pandemic stronger and will continue making progress on our long-term strategic journey, through ongoing investments in our business,” Mr Nasser said.
Even before the half-year results were announced, it was clear Aramco’s half-year earnings would take a hit, with the company’s first-quarter profits down 25 per cent.
Aramco, which floated a sliver of its shares on the local Saudi stock market last year, had long kept its financial details a closely held secret until the company began preparations for its market debut.
