Saudi Aramco Reports Profit Increase Despite Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz
Introduction
Saudi Aramco has announced a significant increase in its first-quarter financial results. This success is mainly due to the strategic use of its East-West pipeline during a period of regional conflict.
Main Body
The company's adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2026 reached $33.6 billion, which is a 26% increase compared to last year. This figure exceeded the $31.2 billion predicted by analysts, while total revenue rose by about 7% to $115.5 billion. This growth happened even though there were attacks on infrastructure and exports through Gulf ports stopped after conflict began between the United States and Iran on February 28. Consequently, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—which handles about 20% of the world's oil and gas—caused energy prices to rise sharply, with Brent crude reaching nearly $100 per barrel. To avoid these shipping problems, Aramco increased the use of its East-West pipeline to a maximum capacity of 7 million barrels per day. This system allows the company to move oil from eastern fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, while another 2 million barrels per day are used for domestic refining. However, the pipeline cannot fully replace the amount of trade that usually goes through the Strait of Hormuz. Because of this, CEO Amin Nasser emphasized that the market would need several months to stabilize if trade resumed now; furthermore, he warned that a longer disruption could delay market recovery until 2027. Regarding corporate management, the board approved a base dividend of $21.9 billion, keeping the payment level the same as last year. Since the Saudi government and its Public Investment Fund own over 96% of the company, these payments are a primary source of funding for national spending. Additionally, SLB CEO Olivier Le Peuch noted that these events show how fragile the global energy system is.
Conclusion
Aramco remains in a strong financial position and shows great operational resilience. However, global market stability still depends on the end of the conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Learning
🚀 From 'And' to 'Furthermore': The Art of Connection
At the A2 level, you likely use simple words like and, but, and because to connect your ideas. To move toward B2, you need Logical Connectors. These are words that tell the reader how two ideas relate, making your English sound professional and fluid rather than like a list of facts.
🔍 The Upgrade Map
Look at how the article replaces basic A2 words with "B2 Power Words":
| A2 Logic (Basic) | B2 Logic (Advanced) | Example from Text |
|---|---|---|
| So | Consequently | "Consequently, the blockade... caused energy prices to rise." |
| And | Furthermore / Additionally | "...furthermore, he warned that a longer disruption..." |
| But | However | "However, the pipeline cannot fully replace..." |
🛠️ How to use these effectively
1. The 'Semicolon' Trick Notice the text uses: "...stabilize if trade resumed now; furthermore, he warned..." When you use furthermore or however to connect two full sentences, put a semicolon (;) or a period (.) before it, and a comma (,) after it. This is a classic B2 structural marker.
2. Cause and Effect Instead of saying "It rained, so I stayed home," try "It rained; consequently, I stayed home." It transforms a simple observation into a formal analysis.
💡 Quick Strategy for You
Next time you write a paragraph, find every time you used the word 'but'. Replace it with 'however'. Then, find your 'and' and see if you can use 'additionally'. You will instantly sound more academic and confident.