Profits rose 14 per cent to $6.9billion (£3.45billion) after strong demand for chemicals in China and improved profit margins in refining operations. Shell shares rose 29p to 1836p.

Finance director Peter Voser said results would have been better but some refineries had had planned maintenance programmes.

And he warned security problems in the Niger Delta meant oil and gas output would be at the bottom end of its 3.3million to 3.5million barrels-a-day guidance.

It lost 188,000 barrels a day during the first quarter. Voser said he was uncertain when full production might be resumed — if ever.