PetroChina heads PFC Energy’s latest ranking of the top 50 listed energy groups according to market capitalization. PetroChina and other national oil groups had slipped in the rankings last year due to the economic crisis. PetroChina, which first ascended to number one in 2007, has a market value of $353.1 billion. Market values for national oil companies gained 66% on average last year, versus a less than 1% increase for international oil companies. Other national oil firms in the top 10 included Brazil’s Petrobras ($199.2 billion) at number four and China’s Sinopec ($159.3 billion) at number seven. Advantages for such companies include a greater number of oil and gas reserves, access to large consumer markets and government backing. In total, the top 50 companies’ market values increased 35% to $3,900 billion.

Source: Financial Times