Output grew and profits revived across Suncor Energy Inc.’s wells-to-wheels chain of Alberta oil and national refining and retailing operations during the first three months of this year.

Management said it was well positioned to maintain financial health across its production to retail chain “as the deployment of  vaccines leads to recovering economies and an expected increase in demand for crude oil and refined products.”

The Calgary independent’s total production, geared to oilsands and thermal underground extraction, increased by 6% to 785,900 boe/d in the first quarter. First quarter output was 690,600 b/d, with 519,000 b/d from the Suncor and Syncrude crude mines, versus 630,100 b/d a year ago.

Covid-19 continues to affect operations, although not production,...