Aug 18 (Reuters) - Australia's top fuel retailer Ampol (ALD.AX) , opens new tab posted a 23% fall in profit in the first half of 2025 on Monday, hit by a drop in refinery margins and operational and weather-related disruptions, but the result was better than feared.

Planned maintenance shutdowns and production losses from a cyclone disrupted operations, while weak Singapore refining margins pressured profitability at its Queensland refinery.

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The refinery's underlying operating earnings shrank substantially to A$1.1 million ($716,210) from A$89.5 million a year ago, while earnings from its fuel and infrastructure division also nearly halved to A$118.3 million.

As a result, the company's net profit after tax from continuing operations fell to A$180.2 million on a replacement-cost basis for the six months ended June 30, compared with A$233.7 million a year ago.

That beat the Visible Alpha consensus estimate of A$165.6 million.

Ampol declared an interim dividend of 40 Australian cents per share, lower than 60 Australian cents per share paid out a year ago.

($1 = 1.5361 Australian dollars)

($1 = 1.5359 Australian dollars)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/australias-ampols-h1-profit-slumps-lower-volumes-refinery-margins-2025-08-17/