Total and Fuchs show very different results for the fourth quarter 2013.
French oil major, Total had a disappointing end to its year with sales of €47.7m, down 4% from the same period in 2012.
Adjusted operating income from business segments fell 18%, with net figures down 16%. The company is citing lower results from the its upstream operations and, to a lesser extent, weaker performance form its refining and chemicals and marketing and services divisions.
Meanwhile, German independent Fuchs ended 2013 on a positive note with strong Q4 provisional figures showing group sales revenues rising to €1.8m, with earnings also continuing an upward trend.
In organic terms, sales revenues rose 4% in the financial year. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) and profit after tax both recorded above-average growth. EBIT rose 6.6% to €312m, while profits increased by 5.6% to €218m. The company is predicting further growth in 2014 thanks to global economic recovery.