Company DescriptionBP p.l.c. engages in the energy business worldwide. It operates through Gas & Low Carbon Energy, Oil Production & Operations, Customers & Products, and Rosneft segments. It produces and trades in natural gas; offers biofuels; operates onshore and offshore wind power, and solar power generating facilities; and provides de-carbonization solutions and services, such as hydrogen and carbon capture and storage. The company is also involved in the convenience and mobility business, which manages the sale of fuels to retail customers, convenience products, aviation fuels, and Castrol lubricants; and refining and trading of oil products, as well as operation of electric vehicle charging facilities. In addition, it produces and refines oil and gas; and invests in upstream, downstream, and alternative energy companies, as well as in advanced mobility, bio and low carbon products, carbon management, digital transformation, and power and storage areas. The company was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
How the Company Makes MoneyBP primarily makes money by producing, processing, trading, and selling energy and energy-related products and services. Upstream: BP earns revenue from the sale of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids produced from its operated and non-operated fields. Realized prices are influenced by global commodity benchmarks and differentials, while profitability depends on production volumes, lifting costs, royalties/taxes, and capital spending. Midstream/Trading: BP generates revenue and margin by marketing, transporting, storing, and trading hydrocarbons; this includes optimizing flows across pipelines, ships, terminals, and storage and using trading/derivatives to manage price risk and capture market opportunities (earnings are driven by market volatility, spreads, and optimization capability). Downstream (Refining & Fuels): BP purchases crude oil and processes it into refined products (e.g., gasoline, diesel, jet fuel); it earns refining margins driven by the spread between crude input costs and product prices, plus utilization, efficiency, and product mix. It also sells fuels wholesale to commercial and industrial customers and through branded channels. Retail & Convenience: BP earns fuel and non-fuel margin through service stations and convenience offers (where applicable), with economics driven by retail fuel margins, volumes, and in-store sales. Lubricants: BP sells branded and bulk lubricants and related services to consumers and industrial customers; this business typically earns margin from product branding, formulation, and distribution rather than commodity exposure alone. Low carbon and other: BP also generates revenue from activities such as electric vehicle charging, bioenergy (including fuels and feedstocks), and renewable power-related activities; earnings in these areas depend on volumes sold, customer contracts, project economics, and the structure of power/renewables markets. Across segments, BP’s results are materially affected by global oil and gas prices, refining margins, demand levels, foreign exchange, regulatory and carbon-related costs, and the performance of its trading and optimization activities.