TotalEnergies Q3 Income Hits Three-year Low

(FILES) This photograph taken on October 5, 2022, shows a logo of Total Energies at a gas station in Genech, northern France. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)
(FILES) This photograph taken on October 5, 2022, shows a logo of Total Energies at a gas station in Genech, northern France. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)
TT
20

TotalEnergies Q3 Income Hits Three-year Low

(FILES) This photograph taken on October 5, 2022, shows a logo of Total Energies at a gas station in Genech, northern France. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)
(FILES) This photograph taken on October 5, 2022, shows a logo of Total Energies at a gas station in Genech, northern France. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)

French oil major TotalEnergies reported third-quarter adjusted net income at a three-year low of $4.1 billion on Thursday, slightly missing expectations as refining margins and upstream outages dragged down earnings.
Adjusted net income was down 37% from a year earlier and 12.7% lower from the previous quarter's $4.7 billion. The result just missed analyst expectations of $4.2 billion, Reuters reported.
Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) fell 23.6% year on year to $10 billion.
Earlier this month, TotalEnergies warned its financial results would take a hit as its margin for converting crude oil into refined fuels tumbled 65%.
Global refining margins have dropped sharply in recent months in the face of weaker economies and the start-up of several new refineries in Asia and Africa, while oil prices fell 17% in the quarter - the largest quarterly decline in a year - on worries about the global oil demand outlook.
TotalEnergies shares were down 1.5% in early trading. RBC analyst Biraj Borkhataria said Total reported "weaker cash generation relative to expectations", and that while "divisional estimates were broadly in line with consensus ... estimates have been falling following the recent trading update."
The company confirmed $2 billion in share buybacks for the fourth quarter and decided a third interim dividend of 0.79 euros per share for 2024.
In addition to a 83% drop in quarterly refining and chemicals division profits year-on-year, Total's integrated LNG division also made 21% less than the third quarter last year, with the company citing low gas market volatility as a hamper on trading profits. Integrated power, which includes renewables, was down 4% from a year ago.
TotalEnergies took a $1.1 billion impairment related to the August bankruptcy filing of US subsidiary SunPower, and its exit of several South African offshore blocks.
Quarterly hydrocarbon production of 2.4 million barrels of oil-equivalent per day was at the low end of guidance given at half year due to security-related disruptions in Libya and an outage at the Ichthys LNG plant in Australia.



Saudi Vision Drives Localization, Reduces Unemployment to 7%

A glimpse of a recent job fair held in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A glimpse of a recent job fair held in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
20

Saudi Vision Drives Localization, Reduces Unemployment to 7%

A glimpse of a recent job fair held in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A glimpse of a recent job fair held in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Since the launch of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 in 2016, the Kingdom has focused on a clear goal: building a diversified and sustainable economy, reducing its dependence on oil, and investing in the potential of its citizens.

Nearly nine years of continuous effort later, the results today reflect a new reality, showcasing the success of Vision 2030 in transforming ambitions into tangible achievements, particularly in the labor market and the empowerment of national talent.

Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate for nationals has dropped to its lowest level, registering 7% in 2024, achieving the Vision 2030 target ahead of schedule. This marks a significant achievement, considering that tackling unemployment was one of the strategic document's top priorities.

The sharp decline is largely attributed to a substantial rise in Saudi women's participation in the labor market, which reached 36%, driven by a series of social and economic reforms. These initiatives have reshaped the role of women in development, opening vast opportunities in education, the workforce, and leadership positions.

Vision 2030 initially aimed to raise women's labor force participation to 30% by 2030. With this target already surpassed a decade early, the goal has now been revised to 40% by 2030, reflecting the effectiveness of national policies in enhancing workforce localization and leveraging Saudi talent.

Historically, Saudi Arabia's labor market has been heavily reliant on the public sector. However, Vision 2030 has driven a shift toward the private sector, with the number of Saudi nationals employed there rising from 1.7 million in 2020 to over 2.4 million in 2024.

In 2024 alone, 437,000 citizens were hired in the private sector, supported by more than 7.5 billion riyals ($1.9 billion) from the Human Resources Development Fund for training, qualification, and career guidance programs. This reflects the government's commitment to preparing a generation capable of adapting to the demands of the evolving job market.

These figures are not only significant in statistical terms, but also serve as a clear indicator of the fundamental transformation driven by Vision 2030 in the national economy. The vision has made empowerment, diversity, and sustainability key pillars in Saudi Arabia's path toward the future.