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* Q1 profits decline 2pct to $5.43 billion
* Strong trading and LNG business give boost(Adds details)
By Ron Bousso
LONDON, May 2 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shellreported on Thursday a small drop in quarterly profits whichstill easily beat forecasts, helped by stronger trading andliquefied natural gas sales.
Shell's results outshine those of rivals Exxon Mobil,Chevron and BP which all saw sharp drops in profits in the firstthree months of the year as a result of lower refining marginsand weaker crude and gas prices.
"Shell has made a strong start to 2019," Chief ExecutiveOfficer Ben van Beurden said in a statement.
"Our integrated value chain enabled our Downstream businessto deliver robust results despite challenging marketconditions."
Net income attributable to shareholders, based on currentcost of supplies (CCS) and excluding identified items, fell 2percent to $5.43 billion in the first quarter from a yearearlier.
That topped a profit forecast of $4.54 billion, according toa company-provided survey of analysts.
Cash flow from operations in the first quarter of 2019,however, declined 9 percent to $8.6 billion including negativeworking capital movements of $3.5 billion.
The strong results build on a sharp rise in profits lastyear to $21.4 billion, their highest since 2014.
The decline was a result of lower chemicals and refiningmargins, lower oil prices and lower tax credits, Shell said.Those were partly offset by stronger contributions from tradingas well as increased LNG and gas prices compared with the firstquarter of 2018.
(Reporting by Ron Bousso; editing by Jason Neely and SusanFenton)
