BEIJINGSINGAPORE, March 25 Reuters PetroChina39;s, net profit rose 8.3 last year off record levels in 2022, as strong growth in natural gas sales and its marketing segment offset lower realised oil prices.

PetroChina39;s net profit amounted to 161.1 billion yuan22.34 billion in 2023, versus 148.7 billion in 2022, while revenue fell 7.0 to 3,239 billion yuan, the firm said in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Monday.

Operating profit for the natural gas segment more than tripled to 43.0 billion yuan from around 13.0 billion yuan, while operating profit in the marketing segment rose 66.7 on the previous year.

The average realised price for crude oil fell by 16.8 compared to 2022 levels.

The national energy giant produced 937.1 million barrels of crude oil last year, or 2.57 million barrels per day, up 3.4 over the previous year 906.2 mln bbl. Natural gas output was up 5.5 at 4,932.4 billion cubic feet bcf.

Refinery crude throughput rose 15.3 to 1,398.8 million barrels, or 3.83 million barrels per day, reversing the previous year39;s 1 decline due to a strong recovery in gasoline and aviation fuel demand as China dropped pandemic curbs.

PetroChina recorded a 17.3 increase in domestic sales of gasoline, diesel and kerosene combined, with domestic kerosene sales surging by 82.1 on 2022.

The group39;s chemical new materials output increased 60.0 on last year.

The refining segment seized the favourable opportunity of market recovery and improved the proportion…