OREANDA-NEWS. February 11, 2013.
EXXONMOBIL'S CHAIRMAN REX W. TILLERSON COMMENTED:

“Energy is fundamental to economic growth and improved living standards. ExxonMobil’s strong financial performance enables continued investment in new energy supplies, which creates jobs and supports economic expansion.

“Fourth quarter 2012 earnings were over USD 9.9 billion, up 6% from the fourth quarter of 2011. Full year 2012 earnings were USD 44.9 billion, up 9% from 2011, with record earnings per share of USD 9.70.

“Capital and exploration expenditures were a record USD 39.8 billion in 2012 as we continue pursuing opportunities to find and produce new supplies of oil and natural gas to meet global demand for energy.

“In 2012, the Corporation distributed over USD 30 billion to shareholders through dividends and share purchases to reduce shares outstanding.”

FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Earnings of USD 9,950 million increased USD 550 million or 6% from the fourth quarter of 2011.

Earnings per share (assuming dilution) were USD 2.20, an increase of 12% from the fourth quarter of 2011.

Gains from asset sales in the fourth quarter of 2012 were nearly \\$600 million, down \\$800 million from the prior year.

LIFO inventory gains were over USD 300 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, similar to the 2011 level.

Capital and exploration expenditures were USD 12.4 billion, up 24% from the fourth quarter of 2011.

Oil-equivalent production decreased 5% from the fourth quarter of 2011. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, production decreased 2%.

Cash flow from operations and asset sales was USD 14.0 billion, including proceeds associated with asset sales of USD 0.8 billion.

Share purchases to reduce shares outstanding were USD 5 billion.

Dividends per share of USD 0.57 increased 21% compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.

ExxonMobil commenced start-up operations at one of the world’s largest ethylene steam crackers, the centerpiece of the company’s multi-billion dollar expansion at its Singapore petrochemical complex. Powered by a new 220-megawatt cogeneration plant, the expansion adds 2.6 million tonnes per year of new finished product capacity.

As announced on January 4, 2013, ExxonMobil will develop the Hebron oil field offshore the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador using a gravity-based structure that will recover more than 700 million barrels of oil, an increase versus earlier estimates. Capital cost for the project, which is expected to begin oil production around the end of 2017, is estimated at USD 14 billion. The platform is being designed for daily production of 150,000 barrels of oil.

Fourth Quarter 2012 vs. Fourth Quarter 2011
Upstream earnings were USD 7,762 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, down USD 1,067 million from the fourth quarter of 2011. Lower liquids realizations, partially offset by improved natural gas realizations, decreased earnings by USD 70 million. Production volume and mix effects reduced earnings by USD 400 million. All other items, including over USD 500 million of lower gains from asset sales, decreased earnings by a net USD 600 million.

On an oil-equivalent basis, production decreased 5.2% from the fourth quarter of 2011. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, production decreased 2.1%.

Liquids production totaled 2,203 kbd (thousands of barrels per day), down 47 kbd from the fourth quarter of 2011. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, liquids production was down 1.4%, as field decline was partially offset by project ramp-up in West Africa and lower downtime.

Fourth quarter natural gas production was 12,541 mcfd (millions of cubic feet per day), down 1,136 mcfd from 2011. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes and divestments, natural gas production was down 2.8%, as field decline was partially offset by higher demand and lower downtime.

Earnings from U.S. Upstream operations were USD 1,604 million, USD 420 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2011. Non-U.S. Upstream earnings were USD 6,158 million, down USD 1,487 million from the prior year.

Downstream earnings were USD 1,768 million, up USD 1,343 million from the fourth quarter of 2011. Stronger refining-driven margins increased earnings by USD 1.2 billion, while volume and mix effects contributed an additional USD 80 million. All other items increased earnings by about USD 80 million. Petroleum product sales of 6,108 kbd were 385 kbd lower than last year's fourth quarter due mainly to the Japan restructuring and divestments.

Earnings from the U.S. Downstream were USD 697 million, up USD 667 million from the fourth quarter of 2011. Non-U.S. Downstream earnings of USD 1,071 million were USD 676 million higher than last year.

Chemical earnings of USD 958 million were USD 415 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2011. Higher margins, mainly commodities, increased earnings by USD 330 million. All other items increased earnings by USD 90 million. Fourth quarter prime product sales of 5,901 kt (thousands of metric tons) were 370 kt lower than last year's fourth quarter due mainly to the Japan restructuring.

Corporate and financing expenses were USD 538 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, up USD 141 million from the fourth quarter of 2011, due mainly to tax impacts.

During the fourth quarter of 2012, Exxon Mobil Corporation purchased 59 million shares of its common stock for the treasury at a gross cost of  USD 5.3 billion. These purchases included USD 5.0 billion to reduce the number of shares outstanding, with the balance used to acquire shares in conjunction with the company’s benefit plans and programs. Share purchases to reduce shares outstanding are currently anticipated to equal USD 5 billion in the first quarter of 2013. Purchases may be made in both the open market and through negotiated transactions, and may be increased, decreased or discontinued at any time without prior notice.

Full Year 2012 vs. Full Year 2011
Earnings of USD 44,880 million increased USD 3,820 million from 2011. Earnings per share increased 15% to USD 9.70. 

FULL YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

Earnings were USD 44,880 million, up 9%.

Earnings include USD 9.9 billion of divestment and restructuring gains, mainly Japan of USD 6.5 billion.

Earnings per share increased 15% to USD 9.70.

Oil-equivalent production was down 6% from 2011. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, production was down 2%.

Cash flow from operations and asset sales was USD 63.8 billion, including proceeds associated with asset sales of USD 7.7 billion.

The Corporation distributed over USD 30 billion to shareholders in 2012 through dividends and share purchases to reduce shares outstanding.

Capital and exploration expenditures were a record USD 39.8 billion.

The Corporation participated in three major liquids project start-ups in West Africa in 2012 with capacity of 350 thousand gross barrels of oil per day.

Upstream earnings were USD 29,895 million, down USD 4,544 million from 2011. Lower liquids realizations, partly offset by improved natural gas realizations, decreased earnings by about USD 100 million. Production volume and mix effects decreased earnings by USD 2.3 billion. All other items, including higher operating expenses, unfavorable tax items, lower gains on asset sales, and unfavorable foreign exchange effects, reduced earnings by USD 2.1 billion.

On an oil-equivalent basis, production was down 5.9% compared to 2011. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, production was down 1.7%.

Liquids production of 2,185 kbd decreased 127 kbd from 2011. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, liquids production was down 1.6%, as field decline was partly offset by project ramp-up in West Africa and lower downtime.

Natural gas production of 12,322 mcfd decreased 840 mcfd from 2011. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes and divestments, natural gas production was down 1.9%, as field decline was partially offset by higher demand and lower downtime.

Earnings from U.S. Upstream operations for 2012 were USD 3,925 million, down USD 1,171 million from 2011. Earnings outside the U.S. were USD 25,970 million, down USD 3,373 million.

Downstream earnings of USD 13,190 million increased USD 8,731 million from 2011. Stronger refining-driven margins increased earnings by USD 2.6 billion, while volume and mix effects increased earnings by about USD 200 million. All other items increased earnings by USD 5.9 billion due primarily to the USD 5.3 billion gain associated with the Japan restructuring and other divestment gains. Petroleum product sales of 6,174 kbd decreased 239 kbd from 2011 due mainly to the Japan restructuring and divestments.

U.S. Downstream earnings were USD 3,575 million, up USD 1,307 million from 2011. Non-U.S. Downstream earnings were USD 9,615 million, an increase of USD 7,424 million from last year.

Chemical earnings of USD 3,898 million were USD 485 million lower than 2011. Margins decreased earnings by USD 440 million, while volume effects lowered earnings by USD 100 million. All other items increased earnings by USD 50 million, as a USD 630 million gain associated with the Japan restructuring and favorable tax impacts were mostly offset by unfavorable foreign exchange effects and higher operating expenses. Prime product sales of 24,157 kt were down 849 kt from 2011.

Corporate and financing expenses were USD 2,103 million, down USD 118 million from 2011.

Gross share purchases for 2012 were USD 21.1 billion, reducing shares outstanding by 244 million shares.

Estimates of key financial and operating data follow.