By Ron Bousso and Shadia Nasralla

LONDON (Reuters) – BP revenue greater than tripled to $ 2.6 billion within the first quarter on larger oil costs and windfall revenues from pure fuel buying and selling, paving the way in which for resumption of buybacks actions by the vitality firm.

The revenue surge from a 12 months earlier comes as BP says it expects demand for oil to choose up in 2021 resulting from sturdy development in america and China as vaccination packages towards COVID-19 are accelerating.

In an indication of rising confidence within the financial restoration and its operations after a 12 months of price, workforce and dividend cuts, BP introduced it might repurchase $ 500 million of shares within the second quarter to offset the dilution of ” a share distribution program to staff.

Web debt fell from $ 5.6 billion on the finish of December to $ 33.3 billion on the finish of March, primarily resulting from about $ 4.8 billion in divestments and better oil costs.

This pushed debt beneath the corporate’s $ 35 billion goal sooner than anticipated, permitting it to maintain its share buyback promise.

The corporate mentioned it would present an replace on the third quarter buyback program later this 12 months.

As a part of CEO Bernard Looney’s plan to shift the main target of the oil main in the direction of investing in low-carbon vitality, BP goals to promote $ 25 billion in property by 2025.

BP shares had been 3% larger in early buying and selling, including to a achieve of greater than 15% up to now this 12 months on larger oil costs.

Nonetheless, it’s the worst performing among the many oil majors, with shares nonetheless round a 3rd beneath their pre-pandemic degree as buyers fear in regards to the firm’s vitality transition technique.

BP’s underlying first-quarter alternative price revenue, the corporate’s definition of internet revenue, rose to $ 2.6 billion, far beating forecast of $ 1.64 billion in a survey by the corporate to analysts.

That compares to a revenue of $ 110 million within the fourth quarter of 2020 and a revenue of $ 790 million a 12 months earlier.

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“This end result was pushed by distinctive efficiency in fuel advertising and buying and selling, considerably larger oil costs and better refining margins.”

Benchmark Brent oil costs rose to a median of $ 61 per barrel within the first quarter, in comparison with $ 44 within the earlier quarter and $ 50 per barrel within the first quarter of 2020.

BP expects world oil inventories, which elevated when the coronavirus pandemic hit gas demand, to drop to historic ranges by the top of 2021.

(Report by Ron Bousso, edited by Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan)