London, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/10/2011 -- ExxonMobil has announced a 69 per cent surge in profit, with high oil prices highlighted as helping its performance.

During the first quarter of 2011, the oil giant's earnings - excluding special items - reached more $10.65 billion (£6.4 billion), compared to the $6.3 billion of the same three-month period in 2010.

A 61 per cent surge of earnings per share was also noted, reaching $2.14, while dividends per share lifted by five per cent.

Rex Tillerson, chairman of ExxonMobil, said robust oil prices helped bolster its success for the quarter.

Indeed, civil unrest in the Middle East and military action against Libya has seen the value of the commodity storm ahead.

"Oil-equivalent production was more than ten per cent higher than 2010, driven by our world-class assets in Qatar and our growing unconventional gas production," he added.

It was also announced today (April 28th) that first-quarter earnings for Royal Dutch Shell hit $6.9 billion on a current cost of supplies basis.

During the same quarter of 2010 this stood at $4.9 billion.

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