OREANDA-NEWS. August 8, 2012. Consolidated net income attributable to the shareholders of Petrobras and EBITDA reached BRL 7,868 million and BRL 27,120 million, respectively, in the first half of 2012.

The Company registered consolidated net loss of BRL 1,346 million in the second quarter of 2012.

The net loss reported in the second quarter of 2012 was mainly a result of exchange depreciation, but was also affected by other operating and economic conditions:

- The depreciation of the Real against the U.S. Dollar significantly affected the net financial expenses due to our dollar-indexed debt as well as the dollar-related costs of the Company.

- Higher expenses with write-offs of dry or sub-commercial wells, mainly drilled between 2009 and 2012, primarily located in areas of new frontiers.

- Crude oil production decreased due to maintenance stoppages aiming to increase operational efficiency.

- Higher lifting costs due to stoppages and expenses with the operational efficiency improvement program of mature fields, which benefits did not occur in this period.

- The price of oil products sold in Brazil remained significantly lower than international prices, during greater part of this quarter, being partially adjusted on June, 25, 2012.

- The oil products demand increased and was primarily met by realization of inventories purchased previously at higher costs and a higher percentage of oil products imports in the sales mix, mainly diesel.

- The decrease in international prices at the end of the period generated inventory losses in the refineries outside of Brazil.

- LNG imports increased in order to meet higher thermoelectric demand while electricity sales margins decreased due to the higher differences settlement price. The thermoelectric demand diminished at the end of the period.