Shell hit by downturn in oil buying and selling – sending shares decrease: Brent Crude down 18% over course of 2025
Shares in Shell fell yesterday after a weaker performance in its trading business amid a drop in crude oil prices in the last quarter of 2025.
It said results from trading would be ‘significantly lower’ than in the third quarter, helping to send its wider chemicals and products division to a loss. The update came ahead of Shell’s fourth quarter and full-year results due next month.
Shares in the FTSE 100 heavyweight fell 3.5 per cent, or 93.5p, to 2562p, and are down by more than 12 per cent since mid-November.
Over the fourth quarter, the price of a barrel of Brent crude fell 9 per cent to just under $61. It fell by 18 per cent over the course of 2025, the biggest fall in five years.
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: ‘The weak showing for the oil trading reflects lower crude prices – a trend exacerbated by developments in Venezuela, on the basis US involvement might help unlock the potential in its huge oil reserves.
The weak margins and big loss flagged for the chemicals division hint at more entrenched problems which the market will want to see fixed.’
Trading slump: Shares in Shell fell yesterday after the energy giant said results from trading would be ‘significantly lower’ than in the third quarter
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