28 May 2010 | Steve Still

Oil giant ExxonMobil purchased a total of $860 million in materials and services from minority- and women-owned businesses last year.

The corporation said this was a 161 per cent increase since 2003 and showed its continuing commitment to its supplier diversity programme.

In its 2009 Corporate Citizenship Report, out this week, the company claimed it worked with and sourced goods from 2,800 US-based minority groups, establishing objectives within each commodity, service area and business line as part of the procurement planning process.

Chairman and CEO Rex W Tillerson said he wanted to continue to “engage with those who take an interest in our business and participate in constructive, progress-oriented partnerships that address global challenges and help societies gain sustainable benefits from our presence.”

For the fourth year running, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council recognised the firm as one of America’s top corporations for integrating women-owned businesses into its supply chain.

The company said it aims to purchase $1 billion in materials and services every year from women-controlled businesses by the end of 2012 - 7 per cent of its total US procurement outlay.

It also plans to extend the project into Australia, Canada, China, and the UK.