In annual terms, however, Petrom’s sales volumes fell 11% in the fourth quarter of 2012.
“Petrom’s gas sales volumes in the fourth quarter of 2012 decreased by 11% versus the same quarter of 2011, but the margin level remained favorable,” OMV said in its report.
Petrom’s hydrocarbon output rose to 183,000 barrels oil equivalent (boe) a day in the fourth quarter, from 182,000 boe a day in the previous three months, due to seasonally higher gas production.
Groupwide, OMV reported a 2.6% decrease in hydrocarbon production quarter-on-quarter to 301,000 boe a day, largely due to unrest in Libya and Yemen as well as planned maintenance shutdown in New Zealand.
Compared with the last three months of 2011, hydrocarbon production rose 4.15% in the fourth quarter of 2012.
OMV expects tax rates million in the fourth quarter, benefiting from a stronger contribution from Petrom.
OMV Petrom is 51.01%-owned by Austrian group OMV. The Economy Ministry holds a 20.63% stake in the company, while investment fund Fondul Proprietatea (FP.RO) owns 20.11%.
At around 2:00 pm Friday, Petrom’s shares traded up 2.21% at RON0.449 in Bucharest, amid a rising market.