In a separate report, the Sun Company, the nation's largest independent refiner, said its net income fell 42 percent.

Shell is the largest refiner and seller of fuel in Europe, with close to 20 percent of the market.

National Sugar, of which he was president from 1948 to 1968, became the second largest refiner in the country.

It will account for about 9 percent of the nation's gasoline market and be the nation's largest independent refiner.

Under the program, oil was purchased from Iraq and resold to large refiners in exchange for food.

All the largest refiners are also oil producers.

Other large refiners, including ConocoPhillips, did not return phone calls seeking comment.

A large refiner, Ashland Oil, said it lost $9 million in the period.

Ashland, which describes itself as the nation's largest independent refiner, has suffered along with the rest of the industry.

This company is the largest refiner and producer of boxes gold watches.