The impacts from the COVID-19 virus spread and stricter quarantine measures enforced by some countries continued to have a destabilizing effect on global economic activities, resulting in maintaining restricted production targets by the OPEC+ participants during the first quarter. These restrictions as well as an increase in hydrocarbons consumption due to the severe cold winter weather in Europe, Asia and North America has led to a significant increase in benchmark hydrocarbons prices in the first quarter 2021, which correspondingly impacted our hydrocarbons sales prices.
Further developments surrounding the COVID-19 virus spread remain uncertain and are outside of the Group's management control, and the scale and duration of these developments are difficult to assess. Despite these uncertainties, the Group continues to demonstrate strong operating results and implement its investment projects in accordance with the Group's approved corporate strategy. The Group's management continues to assess the current situation and present macro-economic environment and takes appropriate actions if deemed necessary.