By Reuters Staff
2 Min Read
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel’s Oil Refineries (ORL) said on Sunday it swung to a profit in the first quarter citing the country’s gradual recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, which had hit refining margins.
ORL, Israel’s largest refining and petrochemicals group, reported a $55 million net profit in the January-March period compared with a $146 million loss a year earlier. Revenue dipped 10% to $1.28 billion.
Its adjusted refining margin was $4.3 a barrel in the first quarter, compared with $1.7 a year earlier and above Reuters’ quoted Mediterranean Ural Cracking Margin of negative $0.2.
CEO Moshe Kaplinsky also commented on the uncertainty regarding plans for developing Haifa, the port city in northern Israel where ORL is based. A government panel has recommended phasing out the petrochemical industry in Haifa’s bay within a decade in favor of other sectors and to improve air quality.