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Eneos reports 78% jump in quarterly earnings, however sticks to FY projection

Japan's leading oil refiner Eneos Holdings reported on Friday a 78% increase in AprilJune net revenue, driving by greater margins in its products and electrical energy sectors and significant inventory appraisal gains.

Net revenue for the three months, the business's very first quarter, rose to 81.6 billion yen ($ 555 million) from 45.8 billion yen a year previously, but the business adhered to its full-year forecast of 210 billion yen.

Operating revenue excluding stock gains is typically on track to meet our initial forecast of 400 billion, Soichiro Tanaka, senior vice president, told a press conference.

The refinery run rate, omitting the effect from scheduled upkeep, improved to 81% from 78% a year earlier, as unexpected blackouts decreased due to sped up inspections and improved operational management.

Nevertheless, the run rate for the July-September quarter will miss the company's initial target due to unexpected shutdowns in July and August, Tanaka said.

We had actually anticipated Q2's run rate to beat Q1, but the increase might be smaller sized than we had anticipated, he said, without supplying a concrete estimate.

Aging equipment was also an aspect behind the blackouts, he stated.

Japanese refiners have actually been reducing oil processing capacity in the previous years to reflect falling regional demand due to an aging population and a shift towards more fuel-efficient cars.

But with a tourism boom, Japan faces a jet fuel shortage affecting commercial flights, which has actually impeded the growth of international flight capability and the intro of new paths.

To address the concern, Eneos will think about increasing imports and domestic production of jet fuel as described by the public-private council in July, Tanaka said.

Asked if debt consolidation of refineries will continue, Tanaka said: Domestic fuels need will continue falling in the long term, however refinery can be used as carbon-neutral facilities and jet fuel demand will likely increase ... so we'll make a. extensive choice.

(source: Reuters)