[BRIEFLY]Refiners report worst sales for 2008

GS Caltex and S-Oil, two of the nation`s major oil refiners, have reported some of the worst annual sales figures in their respective corporate histories.

GS Caltex saw a 60.3 percent`s increase in its year-on-year operating revenue last year, which was 34.42 trillion won ($24.9 billion). Its net profit, however, decreased by 5.9 percent during the year, the company said.

GS posted a 83.2 billion won net loss last year largely because of the weak won and consequent currency exchange losses.

S-Oil, on the other hand, reported 23.3 trillion won in revenue and 1.4 trillion won in operating profit, an increase of 51 and 29.3 percents from a year earlier, respectively, but its net profit decreased by 39 percent during the year.

(danlee@heraldm.con)