OREANDA-NEWS. April 29, 2011. Rosneft (the “Company”) published its consolidated financial results under US GAAP for Q1 2011, reported the press-centre of Rosneft.

In Q1 2011, Rosneft’s revenues increased by 36.3% year-on-year, to USD 20,123 mln. The increase was due to higher crude oil and petroleum product prices as well as due to the growth in sales volumes by 4.9%.

Rosneft’s EBITDA amounted to USD 6,653 mln in Q1 2011, which is 1.5 times more compared with Q1 2010. The increase was mainly driven by revenue growth. However, it was tempered by the rise in transportation and electricity tariffs, real strengthening of the rouble against the USD and growth of tax payments.

In Q1 2011, net income was USD 3,942 mln, up 58.2% compared with USD 2,492 mln in Q1 2010. Rosneft continued to generate material free cash flow, which increased by more than 6 times year-on-year and reached a record high of USD 3,291 mln. As a result, the Company’s net debt decreased to USD 11.1 bln.

In Q1 2011, Rosneft’s average daily crude oil output (including production by subsidiaries and share in production by affiliates) increased by 2.9% year-on-year, to 2,355 th. barrels per day, which is 2% higher than planned. The Company’s Vankor field was the main growth driver. Other growth contributors were Yuganskneftegaz, Samaraneftegaz, Verkhnechonsk field in the Eastern Siberia and Sakhalin-1 project.

Petroleum product output by Rosneft was 11.8 mln tonnes in Q1 2011, which is 2.5% less year-on-year. The decline resulted from lower refinery throughput at the Tuapse Refinery following the decommissioning of a crude distillation unit in the end of 2010.

Rosneft maintained tight control over costs. SG&A costs fall by 15.8% quarter-on-quarter to USD 2.0 per barrel of production. Unit lifting costs declined by 1.3% quarter-on-quarter to USD 2.95. Unit refining costs rose to USD 2.2, or by 3.1% despite the real rouble appreciation of 9.3%.

The Company’s success in cost cutting was muted by increases in tax payments, transportation and electricity tariffs. In Q1 2011, total accrued taxes and export duties rose to USD 8,688 mln, which is USD 2,122 mln higher year-on-year. Transportation costs were up due to the increase in pipeline transportation tariffs by 13.5% year-on-year and growth of rail transportation tariffs by 8.0%. Average electricity tariffs for Rosneft grew by 27% year-on-year due to lower volumes of power purchases at the regulated market and higher tariffs at the unregulated market.

Commenting on the results, Rosneft’s President Eduard Khudainatov said: “The price environment on the international market was very supportive in Q1, allowing us to achieve record high financial results. Strict cost control and further optimization of business processes remained our priorities in the quarter and made their contribution to the growth rates. We also achieved further progress in upgrading our refining capacities”.