MANILA, Philippines — Petron Corp. continued to show recovery amid the pandemic as it ended the nine-month period with a consolidated net income of P4.99 billion, a reversal of the P12.6 billion net loss in the same period last year.
The oil firm attributed the financial recovery to efforts to reduce costs and yield more savings.
As international oil prices continued to rally with Dubai crude breaching the $75 per barrel-mark in the third quarter, Petron’s consolidated revenues from its Philippine and Malaysian operations surged by 35 percent from P216.43 billion to P291.57 billion.
In terms of sales, Petron sold 59.2 million barrels, nearly matching last year’s level of 59.5 million barrels despite the sustained quarantine lockdowns this year.
Retail station volume registered a nine percent increase even as the government re-imposed stricter quarantine protocols to contain another surge of COVID-19 infections.
Local sales of Petron’s lubricants went up by 28 percent, while petrochemical exports likewise exhibited substantial growth, with sales increasing by 68 percent.
“We continue to prioritize volume recovery through programs that will not only help us generate more volumes, but also reward loyal customers,” Petron president and CEO Ramon Ang said in a statement.
Some of its promos include the Panalo Bakunado, wherein the oil firm gave discounts in the form of loyalty points to vaccinated motorists, and Super Driver Card, which provides direct benefits to public transport drivers.
Through the Petron Super Driver Card (SDC) loyalty program, over 300,000 PUV drivers nationwide get as much as P2 off for every liter of diesel and gasoline. This is on top of other benefits such as free medical insurance, roadside towing-assistance, e-load redemption and exclusive discounts and freebies with partner merchants extended to SDC holders.
“Despite external challenges, sustaining the financial resilience of the company has helped ensure that we have the means and the capacity to continue growing the business while providing our investors with the best returns. These include strategic investments in our service station expansion, refinery enhancements, and supply chain management. We are looking forward to ending 2021 in a much stronger and stable position than last year,” Ang said.
In October, Petron listed on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. (PDEx) P18 billion in fixed-rate, peso-denominated bonds, proceeds of which will refinance the company’s existing debts, and fund the construction of a new power plant in Bataan set to be completed and operational next year.
The homegrown oil giant is building a new power plant in Limay, Bataan to increase the capacity of its existing 140-megawatt (MW) power plant to 184-MW.
It is expected to be completed and operational in the second half of 2022 after testing, synchronization, and pre-commissioning activities.