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The world’s largest oil company made $US39.5 billion ($A51 billion) last year – the equivalent of $4.5 million per hour – smashing its own record of $36.1 billion in 2005.
Even more impressive was ExxonMobil’s annual revenue of $377 billion, also surpassing a previous record $370.68 billion.
But the company, which currently produces about 3% of the world’s oil, revealed that its profitability had begun to slide in the final months of the year, and it posted its first quarterly earnings decline in almost three years.
ExxonMobil’s European competitor Shell has also posted the highest net income by a UK-listed company with $25.4 billion.
Meanwhile, Chevron Corp posted its own record-breaking results, with 2006 profits up 22% on the previous year to $17.14 billion.
But the US giant warned that it was facing tough challenges, such as the erosion of its oil production.
Last July, world oil prices hit a record high of $US78 a barrel. After briefly dipping below $50 several weeks ago, they are currently climbing up towards the $60 a barrel mark.
