Accounting statistics for non-financial limited companies, 2009

Oil companies accounted for over half of the total decrease in operating income. In mining and quarrying, operating income went down by over 20 per cent from 2008 to 2009.

Operating profit decreased

Operating expenses for companies went down slightly from 2008 to 2009. Raw materials and consumables were reduced by about 10 per cent, while there was a slight increase in payroll expenses. Despite the reduction in operating expenses, operating profit went down by about 30 per cent.

Net profit improved

The decline in the companies’ ordinary activities notwithstanding, net profit increased from NOK 195 billion in 2008 to NOK 358 billion in 2009. The increase resulted from an improvement in financial items. In the fiscal year 2008, the sum of net financial items was negative, while in 2009 it was positive. The improvement in net financial items resulted from, among other things, reduced write-downs and a positive change of the value of short-term investments.

While oil companies accounted for most of the decrease in operating income, net income for companies on Mainland Norway increased from NOK 71 billion to NOK 246 billion in the period. On the other hand, net profit for companies in mining and quarrying went down from 2008 to 2009 by about 8 per cent.

Tables:

• Table 1 Selected accounting figures, income statement 2008-2009. NOK million
• Table 2 Selected accounting figures. Balance sheet at 2008-2009. NOK million
• Table 3 Key figures for limited companies 2008-2009