【Asia Business English】Saudi Aramco profits jump 33% in second quarter as Iran war squeezes oil supply（B1–B2）

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, announced a 33% rise in profits for the second quarter of the year. This increase is significant because it comes at a time when many major oil companies are seeing large profits. The main reason for these high profits is the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has affected the supply of oil. When the supply of something decreases but the demand remains the same, prices tend to go up. This is exactly what has happened with oil prices.

The Iran conflict has caused uncertainty in the oil market. With less oil available from Iran, countries are looking for other sources, and Saudi Aramco is one of the companies that can meet this demand. Higher oil prices mean that companies like Saudi Aramco can sell their oil at a higher price, leading to increased profits.

Saudi Aramco’s success is not only due to the situation in Iran. The company has been investing in technology and infrastructure to improve its efficiency. This means they can produce oil at a lower cost compared to some competitors. By keeping costs low and selling oil at high prices, Aramco is able to maximize its profits.

The increase in profits for Saudi Aramco has implications for the global economy. Higher oil prices can lead to higher costs for transportation and manufacturing, affecting many industries worldwide. As oil is a key resource for many countries, changes in its price can have a ripple effect on economies everywhere.

In summary, Saudi Aramco’s significant profit growth is a result of both external and internal factors. The situation in Iran has reduced oil supply, driving up prices, while the company’s strategic investments have kept its operations efficient.

📝 Vocabulary

• profit: money that a company makes after all expenses are paid
  例文: “The company made a large profit last year.”
  Collocations／日本語の意味を見る

  • make a profit
  • profit margin
  • profit increase

  利益
• supply: the amount of something that is available
  例文: “The supply of fresh water is limited in some areas.”
  Collocations／日本語の意味を見る

  • supply chain
  • supply shortage
  • increase supply

  供給
• demand: the need or desire for products and services
  例文: “There is a high demand for electric cars.”
  Collocations／日本語の意味を見る

  • meet demand
  • demand increase
  • demand forecast

  需要
• infrastructure: the basic physical structures needed for a society or organization
  例文: “The city needs to improve its infrastructure.”
  Collocations／日本語の意味を見る

  • infrastructure development
  • infrastructure investment
  • infrastructure project

  インフラ
• efficiency: the ability to do something well without wasting time or resources
  例文: “Improving efficiency can reduce costs.”
  Collocations／日本語の意味を見る

  • increase efficiency
  • operational efficiency
  • efficiency improvement

  効率

✏️ Grammar Point

Comparative structures – “By keeping costs low and selling oil at high prices, Aramco is able to maximize its profits.”

文法の日本語補足を見る

比較表現が使われており、効率性の向上や価格の高さを示しています

💡 使用場面

（この構文は、効率性や価格を比較して説明する際に役立ちます）

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

1. True/False: Saudi Aramco’s profits increased by 33% in the second quarter.
2. MCQ: What is one reason for the high profits of oil companies?
   a) Decrease in production costs
   b) Increase in oil supply
   c) Conflict in Iran
   d) New oil discoveries
3. MCQ: What has Saudi Aramco invested in to improve its business?
   a) Marketing campaigns
   b) Renewable energy sources
   c) Technology and infrastructure
   d) New oil fields

🔑 Listening Answersを見る

1. True
2. c) Conflict in Iran
3. c) Technology and infrastructure

📚 Reading Questions

1. What caused the increase in oil prices?
2. Why is Saudi Aramco able to maximize its profits during this period?
3. What is the meaning of “efficiency” as used in the script?

🔑 Reading Answersを見る

1. The conflict in Iran caused the increase in oil prices.
2. Saudi Aramco invested in technology and infrastructure to keep costs low, maximizing profits.
3. The ability to do something well without wasting time or resources.

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

サウジアラムコは、イランでの紛争による供給不足を背景に、第2四半期の利益が33%増加しました。イラン問題が原油供給に不安をもたらし、価格が上昇したため、同社は利益を最大化しています。このような状況は、世界経済にも影響を及ぼし、輸送費や製造コストの増加を招く可能性があります。アラムコは効率を高めるために技術やインフラに投資し、競争力を維持しています。

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/04/saudi-aramco-earnings-2q-oil-iran-war.html