ExxonMobil has said its third-quarter profit fell 10.3% from a year ago to $9.4 billion as slimmer margins for refined products offset record-high crude oil prices.
The Texas-based firm, one of the world's biggest, remained close to its record-setting annual pace of earnings but the profits fell short of Wall Street expectations.
Total revenues for the period increased 3% from a year earlier to $102.3 billion.
Despite the lower profits, ExxonMobil made a total of just under $29 billion over the first nine months of the year, in line to match last year's record $39.5 billion which created a political row.
The oil industry argues that its profits for invested capital are no larger than other sectors. ExxonMobil said for example it invested $5.4 billion on capital and exploration projects in the past quarter, up 8%.
