BOGOTA, March 4 (Reuters) - Colombia's majority

state-owned oil producer Ecopetrol reported on Tuesday

a 7.8% net profit drop in the fourth-quarter, hit by lower oil

prices and a stronger U.S. dollar.

The energy company's net profit stood at 3.9 trillion pesos

($945 million) in the October-to-December period, compared to

the same quarter in 2023. Total sales for the quarter totaled

34.8 trillion pesos, flat from the year-ago three-month period.

Colombia's government holds 88.5% of Ecopetrol's shares.

The company's net profit for all of last year,

meanwhile, fell about 22%, compared to 2023 profits, to reach

14.9 trillion pesos ($3.6 billon).

Its total oil and gas production in the fourth quarter

declined nearly 4% year-on-year to settle at 730,100 barrels of

oil equivalent per day (boepd).

($1 = 4,116.61 Colombian pesos)