Suncor today reported unaudited results for the second quarter of 2021.

“Suncor generated $2.4 billion in funds from operations in the quarter while also completing significant turnaround activities in the upstream and downstream businesses,” said Mark Little, president and chief executive officer. “The improved cash generation enabled us to increase shareholder returns to approximately $1.0 billion, representing approximately 40% of our funds from operations and we’re targeting further debt reduction in the latter half of the year in line with our previously announced capital allocation strategy.”

Funds from operations increased to $2.362 billion ($1.57 per common share) in the second quarter of 2021, compared to $488 million ($0.32 per common share) in the prior year quarter. Cash flow provided by operating activities, which includes changes in non-cash working capital, was $2.086 billion ($1.39 per common share) in the second quarter of 2021, compared to cash flow used in operating activities of $768 million ($0.50 per common share) in the prior year quarter.

The company recorded operating earnings of $722 million ($0.48 per common share) in the second quarter of 2021 compared to an operating loss of $1.345 billion ($0.88 per common share) in the prior year quarter. The company had net earnings of $868 million ($0.58 per common share) in the second quarter of 2021, compared to a net loss of $614 million ($0.40 per common share) in the prior year quarter.

Suncor’s total upstream production increased to 699,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in the second quarter of 2021, compared to 655,500 boe/d in the prior year quarter, due to strong Oil Sands operations production including record In Situ volumes, partially offset by the impact of planned turnaround maintenance at Syncrude.

Significant turnaround activities were completed at Syncrude, Buzzard and across all of the company’s refineries during the second quarter of 2021.The company exited the quarter with refinery utilization of approximately 94%, and with Syncrude and Buzzard having returned to production, the company is set up for a strong second half of the year.

Canadian gasoline and diesel demand in the second quarter of 2021 is estimated to be 13%2 below the comparable pre-COVID-19 period in 2019, reflecting the continued COVID-19 related restrictions across Canada. With the lifting of many restrictions in July, gasoline and diesel demand is estimated to have improved to 6%2 below the comparable 2019 levels.

The company shared its updated strategy, which focuses on increasing shareholder returns while accelerating its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets, growing its business in low GHG fuels, electricity and hydrogen, sustaining and optimizing its base business and transforming its GHG footprint to be a net-zero company by 2050.

Suncor, together with four industry partners representing 90% of Canada’s oil sands production, announced the Oil Sands Pathways to Net Zero alliance whose initiative is aimed at working collectively with the federal and Alberta governments to achieve net-zero GHG emissions from oil sands operations by 2050.

In the second quarter of 2021, Suncor remained focused on maximizing the return to its shareholders through the repurchase of approximately 23 million common shares for $643 million under the company’s share repurchase program, and payment of $315 million of dividends. Share repurchases in the quarter represent 1.5% of Suncor’s issued and outstanding common shares as at January 31, 2021. Since the start of the normal course issuer program (NCIB) in February 2021, the company has repurchased $961 million in common shares, representing approximately 35 million common shares at an average share price of $27.47 per common share, or the equivalent of 2.3% of Suncor’s issued and outstanding common shares as at January 31, 2021.

Subsequent to the second quarter of 2021, Suncor’s Board of Directors approved an increase to the company’s share repurchase program to approximately 5% of the company’s outstanding common shares as at January 31, 2021. Concurrently, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) accepted a notice to increase the maximum number of common shares the company may repurchase pursuant to its NCIB to approximately 5%. The increase to the program demonstrates management’s confidence in the company’s ability to generate cash flow and its commitment to return cash to shareholders.

Financial Results

Operating Earnings (Loss)
Suncor’s second quarter 2021 operating earnings were $722 million ($0.48 per common share), compared to an operating loss of $1.345 billion ($0.88 per common share) in the prior year quarter. In the second quarter of 2021, crude oil and refined product realizations increased significantly compared to the prior year quarter, which reflected the impact of the unprecedented decline in transportation fuel demand, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increase in OPEC+ crude supply. The improving business environment in the second quarter of 2021 also resulted in a net inventory valuation gain, reflecting a first-in, first-out gain as a result of the increasing value of refinery feedstock. Operating earnings were partially offset by an increase in royalties and operating expenses associated with Suncor’s increased production in the second quarter of 2021 and reflected lower costs in the prior year quarter related to specific measures taken by the company to reduce operating costs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Net Earnings (Loss)
Suncor’s net earnings were $868 million ($0.58 per common share) in the second quarter of 2021, compared to a net loss of $614 million ($0.40 per common share) in the prior year quarter. In addition to the factors impacting operating earnings (loss) discussed above, net earnings for the second quarter of 2021 included a $156 million unrealized after-tax foreign exchange gain on the revaluation of U.S. dollar denominated debt and a $10 million after-tax unrealized loss on risk management activities. The net loss in the prior year quarter included a $478 million unrealized after-tax foreign exchange gain on the revaluation of U.S. dollar denominated debt and a $144 million after-tax unrealized loss on risk management activities.

Funds from Operations and Cash Flow Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Funds from operations were $2.362 billion ($1.57 per common share) in the second quarter of 2021, compared to $488 million ($0.32 per common share) in the second quarter of 2020. Funds from operations were influenced by the same factors impacting operating earnings (loss) noted above.

Cash flow provided by operating activities, which includes changes in non-cash working capital, was $2.086 billion ($1.39 per common share) for the second quarter of 2021, compared to cash flow used in operating activities of $768 million ($0.50 per common share) in the prior year quarter. In addition to the factors noted above, cash flow provided by operating activities was further impacted by a use of cash associated with the company’s working capital balances in both periods. The use of cash in the second quarter of 2021 was primarily due to an increase in production and commodity prices at the end of the quarter, resulting in an increase in accounts receivable and inventory balances, which was partially offset by a decrease in income tax receivable balances related to the receipt of a portion of the company’s 2020 income tax refund.

Operating Results

Suncor’s total upstream production increased to 699,700 boe/d in the second quarter of 2021, compared to 655,500 boe/d in the prior year quarter, reflecting strong Oil Sands operations production during the quarter, partially offset by the impact of planned turnaround maintenance at Syncrude. The prior year quarter was impacted by the significant decline in crude oil demand due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company’s net synthetic crude oil production increased to 437,200 barrels per day (bbls/d) in the second quarter of 2021 from 436,600 bbls/d in the second quarter of 2020. Strong mining and upgrading performance at Oil Sands Base resulted in upgrader utilization of 96%, compared to 93% in the prior year quarter. At Syncrude, both periods were impacted by planned maintenance, and following the completion of planned turnaround activities in the second quarter of 2021, Syncrude ramped up to full operating rates subsequent to the end of the quarter. Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Fort McMurray region, the company staggered its planned turnarounds at Oil Sands Base plant Upgrader 2 and Syncrude, resulting in the deferral of the Oil Sands Base turnaround to the third quarter of 2021. This decision supported the safe and efficient completion of the Syncrude turnaround activities and minimized the overlap between the two assets. The deferral of the turnaround activities at Oil Sands Base is not anticipated to impact annual production volumes and has been reflected in the company’s 2021 guidance. Suncor continues to work with the community of Fort McMurray, various levels of government and other industry stakeholders to accelerate rapid testing and vaccinations in the region.

The company’s non-upgraded bitumen production increased to 178,500 bbls/d in the second quarter of 2021 from 117,100 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, which, for the second quarter in a row, included the best In Situ quarterly production in the company’s history. During the quarter, the increase in non-upgraded production to market was further supported by strong mining performance at Oil Sands Base, which resulted in less Firebag volumes utilized at the upgrader and overall higher Oil Sands operations production volumes. At MacKay River, production in the prior year quarter was impacted by an outage that occurred in late 2019.

Production at Fort Hills during the quarter reflected the previously communicated change in the mine ramp up strategy.  This strategy is principally focused on building ore inventory as appropriate ore inventory levels are required to operate the plant at 90% of nameplate capacity on a two-train operation. By the end of the quarter, ore inventory build was slower than expected with access to additional contract equipment and labour being more constrained than expected. Access to additional resources has increased and we anticipate being at expected contractor capacity by August 2021. Subsequent to the quarter, slope instability on the south side of the mine, which contains the majority of the exposed ore, will require overburden removal to occur earlier than expected to provide full access to the exposed ore and maintain slope integrity. This activity is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. As a result, Fort Hills plans to continue at the current production level for the remainder of the year, with a transition to both primary extraction trains beginning in late 2021 to enable full production in early 2022. 2021 annual guidance for Fort Hills production and Fort Hills cash operating costs have been updated to reflect these changes.

Exploration and Production (E&P) production during the second quarter of 2021 decreased to 84,000 boe/d from 101,800 boe/d in the prior year quarter, primarily due to planned turnaround activities at Buzzard and natural declines. Both periods were impacted by the absence of production from Terra Nova as the asset has remained off-line since the fourth quarter of 2019. During the second quarter of 2021, the company announced that the co-owners of the Terra Nova Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading facility and associated Terra Nova Field have reached an agreement, in principle, to restructure the project ownership and provide short-term funding towards continuing the development of the Asset Life Extension Project, with the intent to move to a sanction decision in the third quarter of 2021. The agreement is subject to finalized terms and approval from all parties to the agreement and is contingent upon the previously disclosed royalty and financial support from the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador.

Refinery crude throughput was 325,300 bbls/d and refinery utilization was 70% in the second quarter of 2021, compared to refinery crude throughput of 350,400 bbls/d and refinery utilization of 76% in the prior year quarter, reflecting planned turnaround activities in the current quarter and reduced rates in response to lower demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the prior year quarter. During the second quarter of 2021, the company completed turnaround activities for the year across all its refineries, enabling them to exit the quarter with a refinery utilization of approximately 94%. Refined product sales in the second quarter of 2021 increased to 463,300 bbls/d, compared to 438,800 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, due to improved refined product demand and a draw in product inventory as we strategically built inventory in support of significant planned turnaround activities and an improving business environment. With the completion of turnarounds across the company’s refineries and the phased lifting of COVID-19-related restrictions, the company is positioned to capture improved margins in the second half of the year as domestic demand continues to recover towards pre-pandemic levels.

“In the first half of 2021, we achieved strong Oil Sands Base mining and upgrading production and consecutive quarterly production records at In Situ leading to the best start to the year in the company’s history at Oil Sands operations,” said Little. “During the quarter we completed significant turnaround activities at Syncrude and across all our refineries. Following the quarter, we’ve ramped up our assets and are positioned for a strong second half of 2021.”

The company’s total operating, selling and general expenses increased to $2.720 billion in the second quarter of 2021 from $2.129 billion in the prior year quarter due to increased production at Oil Sands Base, and higher planned maintenance that was conducted at the same time as the planned turnaround activities at Syncrude. These expenses were partially offset by cost reductions related to digital technology and transformation initiatives. Increased production in the quarter resulted in higher absolute costs but lower cash operating costs per barrel at Oil Sands operations, despite a significant increase in natural gas prices compared to the prior year quarter. The prior year quarter reflected lower costs related to specific measures taken by the company to reduce operating costs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was also favourably impacted by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Wage Subsidy.

Strategy Update

In May, Suncor held its investor day event to outline the company’s medium-term corporate outlook, provide an update on the progress made to date on its $2.15 billion incremental free funds flow target and discuss other strategic objectives. In the near term the company expects to continue to execute its plans to structurally lower its cost base and improve productivity, including ensuring the smooth transition of Syncrude operatorship and continuing Suncor’s digital transformation. Once Syncrude operatorship is transferred, gross synergies of approximately $100 million are expected for the joint venture owners within the first six months with an additional $200 million through 2022-2023. Building on the achievements in 2020, which included debottlenecks and tailings management, initiatives in 2021 such as mine optimization and digital, process and technology projects are expected to contribute to the company's $2.15 billion incremental free funds flow target.

Suncor also announced its new strategic objective to become a net-zero GHG emissions company by 2050 (on emissions produced from running its facilities, including those it has a working interest in) and to substantially contribute to society’s net-zero ambitions. While Suncor will continue to track and report emissions intensity, the company has set a more ambitious near-term goal to better align with its objective to reach net-zero emissions and to provide a clearer way to demonstrate progress: targeting annual emissions reductions of 10 megatonnes across its value chain by 2030. Suncor plans to achieve this by reducing its base business emissions, investing in profitable low emissions ventures and technologies, taking actions that reduce others’ emissions and investing in offsets outside its business. Additionally, Suncor, together with Canadian Natural Resources, Cenovus Energy, Imperial Oil and MEG Energy – who together operate 90% of oil sands production – announced the Oil Sands Pathways to Net Zero alliance. The goal of this alliance is to work collectively with the federal and Alberta governments to achieve net-zero GHG emissions from oil sands operations by 2050. The Pathways initiative will explore several parallel pathways to address GHG emissions, including the creation of a Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage trunkline connected to a carbon sequestration hub to enable multi-sector ‘tie-in’ projects as well as the implementation of other next-generation technologies.

KeyFacts Energy: Suncor Energy Canada country profile