New Analysis Shows That Aramco, ExxonMobil, and TotalEnergies Lead By Far in Profitability Per Barrel, While Petrobras and BP Appear in the Last Positions.
In 2024, profitability per production has become the new benchmark for efficiency in the energy sector. Data from Energy Analytics reveals which oil and gas companies are making the most money per barrel in 2024, with numbers that stand out due to the contrast between industry leaders and laggards.
The Saudi state-owned Aramco tops the list with an impressive US$ 23.5 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE). Next are ExxonMobil with US$ 21.3 and TotalEnergies with US$ 18.
Billion-Dollar Differences Between Industry Giants
The gap between the top and bottom positions is striking. While BP languishes at the bottom with only US$ 1.4 per BOE, Aramco profits almost 17 times more per barrel.
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The list of the 5 most efficient companies includes:
- Aramco: US$ 23.5/boe
- ExxonMobil: US$ 21.3/boe
- TotalEnergies: US$ 18/boe
- Shell: US$ 16/boe
- Chevron: US$ 14.6/boe
Petrobras: Drop in Ranking and Efficiency Warning
Among the companies analyzed, Petrobras occupies a delicate position. With US$ 7.7 per BOE, the Brazilian state-owned company has fallen to 7th place in the global ranking of net profit among publicly traded companies.
In absolute terms, Petrobras made US$ 7.2 billion in 2024, a contraction of almost 70% compared to the previous year, according to data from Energy Analytics. This was the worst placement for the company since 2019.
What Explains the Differences in Profitability?
The analysis suggests that, more than scale or reserves, what defines which oil and gas companies are making the most money per barrel in 2024 is operational efficiency and cost discipline.
Aramco and ExxonMobil maintain highly automated operations, very low extraction costs, and advantageous commercial contracts. Meanwhile, companies like BP and Eni face tight margins, heavy overhead, and difficulties adapting to the new energy transition landscape.
Mergers on the Horizon? Strategy May Be Answer to Low Profitability
With companies like BP operating on minimal margins, the market speculates on movements of mergers and acquisitions as a way to quickly boost profit per unit produced.
“If a company is making only US$ 1.4 per BOE, the question is not whether it needs to reinvent itself. It’s when,” summarizes Energy Analytics.
Complete Ranking: Profit Per Barrel of Oil and Gas Giants in 2024
| Company | Profit Per BOE (US$) |
|---|---|
| Aramco | 23.5 |
| ExxonMobil | 21.3 |
| TotalEnergies | 18.0 |
| Shell | 16.0 |
| Chevron | 14.6 |
| Petronas | 14.5 |
| ConocoPhillips | 12.7 |
| PetroChina | 12.6 |
| Equinor | 11.7 |
| KazMunaiGas | 9.9 |
| Petrobras | 7.7 |
| Eni | 4.5 |
| BP | 1.4 |

O posicionamento da Petrobrás nesse ranking é injustificável, pois o Brasil tem a posse de uma das maiores reservas de petróleo do mundo.
Como dizia Monteiro Lobato: “O petróleo é nosso.”
Diante disso, fica a pergunta: Não temos autonomia sobre a gestão dos nossos recursos naturais?