LONDON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Energy giant Shell reported on Thursday annual profits of 28 billion U.S. dollars for 2023, down 30 percent from the previous year's record-high results as energy prices fell.
At a time when the global economy was weak and energy prices have cooled since the early months of the Ukraine crisis, lower chemicals and refining profit margins and slower fuel sales have led to the drop in the company's earnings.
Shell reported a record annual profit of 39.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, more than twice the 2021 figure and far above the previous record set in 2008. Energy giants' record earnings sparked discussions about windfall taxes at the time as the British government was struggling with rising energy bills. ■
