New York - Petroleum giant Exxon Mobil reported Friday it achieved a record profit of 45 billion dollars in 2008 although earnings plunged in the last quarter amid slumping prices.

The world's largest petroleum concern said its profit came to 45.22 billion dollars, up 11 per cent from the previous record results achieved in 2007.

In the last quarter, profits fell one-third to 7.8 billion dollars, the Houston, Texas-based oil concern said, reflecting the strong drop in prices as the economic slump made itself felt.

Sales in 2008 came to 477.4 billion dollars, up 18 per cent from the year before. But the fourth quarter turnover, of 84.7 billion dollars, was down more than 25 per cent, Exxon Mobil said. (dpa)