lower refined product margins was a decrease in operating expenses, which benefited earnings by $300 million, and an increase of about $100 million in earnings from CPChem. The improvement for CPChem reflected lower utility and manufacturing costs, as well as the absence of an impairment recorded in 2008. These benefits more than offset lower margins on the sale of commodity chemicals.

     Sales volumes of refined products were 1.35 million barrels per day in 2010, a decrease of 4 percent from 2009. The decline was mainly in gasoline and jet fuel sales. Sales volumes of refined products were 1.40 million barrels per day in 2009, a decrease of 1 percent from 2008. U.S. branded gasoline sales decreased to 573,000 barrels per day in 2010, representing approximately 7 percent and 5 percent declines from 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decline in 2010, relative to 2009 and 2008, was primarily due to the previously announced exits from selected eastern U.S. retail markets.

     Refer to the “Selected Operating Data” table on page FS-11 for a three-year comparison of sales volumes of gasoline and other refined products and refinery input volumes.

International Downstream

     International downstream earned $1,139 million in 2010, compared with $594 million in 2009. Higher margins on the manufacture and sale of gasoline and other refined products increased earnings by about $1.0 billion, and a favorable swing in mark-to-market effects on derivative instruments benefited earnings by about $300 million. Partially offsetting these items was the absence of 2009 gains on asset sales of about $550 million and higher expenses of about $200 million, primarily related to employee reduction and transportation costs. Foreign currency effects reduced earnings by $135 million in 2010, compared with a reduction of $191 million in 2009.

     Earnings of $594 million in 2009 decreased about $1.2 billion from 2008. A decline of approximately $2.6 billion between periods was associated with weaker margins on the manufacture and sale of gasoline and other refined products and the absence of gains recorded in 2008 on derivative instruments. Foreign currency effects produced an unfavorable variance of about $300 million. Partially offsetting these items were a $1.0 billion benefit from lower operating expenses associated mainly with contract labor, professional services and transportation costs, and about a $550 million increase in gains on asset sales related to refined products marketing operations, primarily in certain countries in Latin America and Africa. 

     International refined product sales volumes of 1.76 million barrels per day in 2010 were 5 percent lower than in 2009, mainly due to asset sales in certain countries in Africa and Latin America. Refined product sales volumes of 1.85 million barrels per day in 2009 were 8 percent lower than in 2008, mainly due to the effects of asset sales and lower demand. 

     Refer to the “Selected Operating Data” table, on page FS-11, for a three-year comparison of sales volumes of gasoline and other refined products and refinery input volumes.

All Other

     All Other includes mining operations, power