A price drop benefits any country seeking to cut its fuel bill. But in oil producing nations, lower prices can feed economic troubles, and sometimes political unrest, as governments slash spending.

Chevron and Exxon reported a drop in quarterly profits on Friday on the back of falling oil prices and weak refining margins, as the oil industry braces for its toughest year since the pandemic. Chevron said net income fell by just over a third to $3.

Exxon Mobil’s first quarter profit slumped to the lowest level in years, stung by weaker crude prices and higher costs. The oil and gas giant earned $7.71 billion, or $1.76 per share, for the three months ended March 31.