Refiner HF Sinclair beats quarterly profit estimates on higher processing volumes

(Reuters) -HF Sinclair reported a quarterly profit on Thursday that beat analysts' estimates as it processed higher volumes of crude oil and on strength at its lubricants and midstream units, all of which offset a slump in its refining margins.

The company joins rivals Phillips 66 and Valero in reporting lower quarterly profits from a year earlier, but beating earnings estimates on higher volumes of crude processed.

HF Sinclair's refinery throughput, or the total amount of crude processed, was 676,610 barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter ending June, compared with 598,970 bpd a year earlier.

U.S. refiners ramped up processing capacity to 93.5% in the quarter, compared with 91% in the same period last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, on expectations of an uptick in demand that did not materialize.

Fuel demand came under pressure during the quarter due to sluggish manufacturing activity and an increase in renewable fuel supply.

While HF Sinclair's refinery gross margins fell to $11.33 per barrel from $21.99 a year earlier, its refinery utilization averaged 93.6%, compared with 81.7%.

Adjusted core profit from HF Sinclair's refining segment dropped 74.5%. Sales of refined products rose to 666,250 bpd from 598,180 bpd.

The company's midstream segment saw a nearly 44.5% rise in income on higher volumes, while income from its lubricants unit also increased.

On an adjusted basis, Dallas-based HF Sinclair earned 78 cents per share in the second quarter, compared with analysts' estimates of 71 cents, according to LSEG data.

(Reporting by Seher Dareen in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)