The global energy consultancy PFC Energy has published the annual ranking of the world’s largest energy companies for 2010. The table below shows the top 25 firms:

[TABLE=876]

Source: PFC Energy

Note:

Market cap data is as of 12/31/2010.

* Prior listings ranked BHP-Billliton based on total market capitalization; this year the company is ranked by the estimated value of its E&P component based on reserves and production.

Some observations:

• U.S oil giant ExxonMobil(XOM) retains the top position with a market cap of $368.7 billion.
• Since PetroChina’s (PTR) market cap fell by 14% last year it fell to the second rank.
• Brazil’s Petrobras (PBR) has jumped from 27th rank in 1999 to 3rd rank last yea. So its market cap has grown at compound annual rate of 27%.
• Colombia’s state-owned Ecopetrol(EC) posted impressive market cap gains in 2010 propeling the company to the 13th spot. Accordingly Ecopetrol’s ADR soared from about $24 in January 2010 to close the year at about $44.

The complete list of the PFC Energy 50 can be found here.

Disclosure: Long PBR, EONGY