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Tuesday, Aug 04, 2026
Outside the box.
BP profits reach four-year high amid Middle East conflict
Surging oil prices driven by supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz propel quarterly earnings to $5.73 billion.
BP's quarterly profits have surged to a four-year peak, driven by escalating crude prices following the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
The energy giant reported a profit of $5.73 billion (£4.26 billion) for the April-to-June period, more than doubling the $2.35 billion earned during the same quarter last year.
This represents the company's highest quarterly result since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.
Global crude prices have climbed as conflict in the Middle East threatens supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, averaged $103.85 a barrel during the quarter, a significant increase from $67.88 in the previous year's second quarter.
This price volatility has subsequently inflated petrol, diesel, and domestic energy costs worldwide.
Amid these record earnings, BP is pivoting away from certain renewable ventures.
The company confirmed plans to divest its U.S.-based renewable natural gas business, Archaea, as part of a broader strategy to prioritize high-return assets.
Chief Executive Meg O'Neill stated the move reflects a commitment to "value, not sentiment or history," noting that the firm must focus on assets with the strongest potential for long-term value.
This follows last week's announcement that BP intends to sell its North Sea business, which would conclude 60 years of regional production.
The profit surge has drawn intense criticism from environmental and poverty advocates.
Angharad Hopkinson of Greenpeace accused the company of "profiteering" and argued that corporate gains have become "entirely divorced from the public good." However, Hopkinson noted that Greenpeace agrees with BP's decision to exit the North Sea, characterizing the continued extraction of oil in the region as "sheer folly."
The energy giant reported a profit of $5.73 billion (£4.26 billion) for the April-to-June period, more than doubling the $2.35 billion earned during the same quarter last year.
This represents the company's highest quarterly result since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.
Global crude prices have climbed as conflict in the Middle East threatens supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, averaged $103.85 a barrel during the quarter, a significant increase from $67.88 in the previous year's second quarter.
This price volatility has subsequently inflated petrol, diesel, and domestic energy costs worldwide.
Amid these record earnings, BP is pivoting away from certain renewable ventures.
The company confirmed plans to divest its U.S.-based renewable natural gas business, Archaea, as part of a broader strategy to prioritize high-return assets.
Chief Executive Meg O'Neill stated the move reflects a commitment to "value, not sentiment or history," noting that the firm must focus on assets with the strongest potential for long-term value.
This follows last week's announcement that BP intends to sell its North Sea business, which would conclude 60 years of regional production.
The profit surge has drawn intense criticism from environmental and poverty advocates.
Angharad Hopkinson of Greenpeace accused the company of "profiteering" and argued that corporate gains have become "entirely divorced from the public good." However, Hopkinson noted that Greenpeace agrees with BP's decision to exit the North Sea, characterizing the continued extraction of oil in the region as "sheer folly."
