Downstream overview

Petrol pump (icon)Petrol pump (icon)

Oil products
Cash engine

Test tubes (icon)Test tubes (icon)

Chemicals
Growth priority

Milestones in 2016

  • Downstream achieved the second-highest earnings since 2008. Notably, our results featured a strong performance from our Marketing business, benefiting from growth in premium branded products which helped generate higher unit margins. The Retail business had its strongest year ever.
  • We announced the final investment decision (FID) to expand our 50:50 joint venture with CNOOC in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China, which includes the Nanhai petrochemicals complex. The expansion includes the ongoing construction of a new ethylene cracker and ethylene derivatives units, which are expected to increase ethylene capacity by more than 1 million tonnes per year when fully completed in 2019.
  • We announced the to build a major petrochemicals complex, comprising an ethylene cracker with polyethylene derivatives unit in Pennsylvania, USA. Main construction is expected to start by 2018, with commercial production beginning early in the next decade.
  • Shell completed the sale of a number of our interests including:
    • our Denmark Marketing business to Couche-Tard.
    • a 31.2% interest in Showa Shell in Japan to Idemitsu, retaining a 3.8% interest.
    • our 51% interest in Shell Refining Company (SRC) to Malaysia Hengyuan International Limited (SRC owns the Port Dickson refinery).
    • In the Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (PSPC), a subsidiary of Shell, priced its initial public offering (IPO) at 67 Philippine pesos per share. Following the IPO, Shell remains the majority shareholder in PSPC with a 55% interest.
  • We signed agreements for sales that are expected to complete in 2017 subject to regulatory approval. These include:
    • our 20% interest in Vivo Energy, the Shell licensee in 16 markets in Africa, to Vitol Africa B.V., for $250 million.
    • our Australian aviation business to Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd., for a total transaction value of approximately $250 million.
    • the Fredericia refinery and local trading and supply activities in Denmark to Dansk Olieselskab ApS, for approximately $80 million including working capital.

Additionally, in 2017

  • Shell and SABIC signed an agreement whereby SABIC will acquire Shell’s 50% share in the petrochemicals SADAF joint venture, located in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for $820 million. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to complete later this year. 
  • Also, Saudi Refining Inc. (SRI) and Shell announced the signing of binding definitive agreements on the separation of assets, liabilities and businesses of Motiva Enterprises LLC. Subject to regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017. A balancing payment of $2.2 billion has been agreed between the parties, subject to adjustments including for working capital.

Downstream – key statistics

 

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

CCS earnings ($ million), of which:

6,588

10,243

3,411

3,869

5,382

Oil Products

4,940

8,654

1,994

2,026

4,008

Chemicals

1,648

1,589

1,417

1,843

1,374

CCS earnings excluding identified items ($ million)

7,243

9,748

6,265

4,466

5,343

Cash flow from operating activities ($ million)

3,556

14,076

11,292

7,903

11,111

Oil Products sales volumes (thousand b/d)

6,483

6,432

6,365

6,164

6,235

Chemicals sales volumes (thousand tonnes)

17,292

17,148

17,008

17,386

18,669

Refinery processing intake (thousand b/d)

2,701

2,805

2,903

2,915

2,819

Refinery availability (%)

90

90

93

94

92

Chemical plant availability (%)

90

85

85

92

91

Capital investment ($ million)

6,057

5,119

5,910

5,528

5,454

Capital employed ($ million)

52,671

46,280

48,925

64,507

62,426

Employees (thousands)

40

43

47

48

48

Downstream CCS earnings and ROACE [A]

$ billion

%

Downstream CCS earnings and ROACE for Marketing, Refining & trading and Chemicals (in $ billion); ROACE (RHS) (in %) – development from 2012 to 2016 (bar and line chart)Downstream CCS earnings and ROACE for Marketing, Refining & trading and Chemicals (in $ billion); ROACE (RHS) (in %) – development from 2012 to 2016 (bar and line chart)

[A] CCS earnings excluding identified items, on a CCS basis excluding identified items.

Downstream capital investment

$ billion

Downstream capital investment for Asset integrity and Growth (in $ billion) – development from 2012 to 2016 (bar chart)Downstream capital investment for Asset integrity and Growth (in $ billion) – development from 2012 to 2016 (bar chart)
FID
final investment decision
View complete glossary
ROACE
return on average capital employed
View complete glossary