ROYAL Dutch Shell has posted a sharp fall in second quarter profits amid a period of low oil prices the company said could last for years.

The oil and gas giant made a profit of $3.8 billion (£2.4bn) excluding one offs in the three months to June, down 37 per cent on the $6.1bn achieved in the same period last year.

“Today’s oil price downturn could last for several years, and Shell’s planning assumptions reflect today’s market realities,” the company said.