Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. cemented its position as the country’s leading independent oil company and emerging major as it increased its market share to 6.2% in 2017 from 5.7% the previous year.

The Philippine Department of Energy in its Oil Supply/Demand Report for 2017 also shows Phoenix Petroleum improving the most in market share among the top four players, reinforcing its reputation as the fastest-growing oil company in the country. Phoenix Petroleum led other independents as it posted record volume sales in 2017. The share includes that of Petronas Energy Philippines, the LPG business acquired by Phoenix last year, which has been renamed Phoenix LPG Philippines, Inc.

“We are proud to be an emerging major in the industry today, after having started just over 15 years ago in Davao City,” said Phoenix Petroleum President and CEO Dennis Uy. “As we enter the next phase of our growth, we will continue to be passionate and committed in serving our customers’ needs and growing the business.”

Phoenix Petroleum recorded its best performing year yet in 2017 when it posted triple all-time high in sales volume, revenues and net income. The company recorded a net income of PHP 1.79 billion (USD 34.3 million), up 65% from PHP 1.09 billion (USD 20.9 million) in 2016. Excluding non-recurring gains and costs related to the newly acquired LPG business, core income reached an all-time high of PHP 1.42 billion (USD 27.2 million), up 30% year-on-year. Revenues grew by 45% to PHP 44.43 billion (USD 853.1 million), driven by a strong fuels business, with sales volume increasing by 17% to 1.76 billion liters.

Phoenix Petroleum has 530 retail stations nationwide and serves a growing number of commercial and industrial accounts in power, marine, manufacturing, transportation, aviation and other industries. It is strengthening its retail network with a nationwide refurbishing of its service stations. Early this year, Phoenix opened its 100th station that sports the new design, reflecting the company’s aspiration of becoming the next generation fuel company. The company has also launched its upgraded fuels powered with Phoenix PULSE Technology. Available in all its fuel products, Phoenix PULSE Technology is a fuel additive with advanced cleaning and protection properties for enhanced power and acceleration.

Aside from strengthening its fuel business, Phoenix Petroleum is also investing in new revenue and profit streams. In the past 12 months, it acquired Petronas Energy Philippines and Philippine FamilyMart, marking its entry into the higher margin and high-growth businesses of LPG and convenience store retailing. The Petronas acquisition was completed in August 2017. Now operating as Phoenix LPG Philippines, it will expand outside Visayas and Mindanao into Luzon to further grow the business as it markets the Phoenix Super LPG brand.

The purchase of Philippine FamilyMart, the third largest convenience store chain in the country, was completed in January 2018.

The company also established its trading arm PNX Petroleum Singapore Pte Ltd. in September 2017 for greater access to the regional market and system-wide efficiency.

Early this year, Phoenix Petroleum entered into a joint venture with TIPCO Asphalt of Thailand and PhilAsphalt to form Phoenix Asphalt Philippines, Inc. to manufacture, operate, market and distribute asphalt in the country. The newly formed venture forms part of Phoenix’s strategy to complete its petroleum product offerings and to capitalize on the expected growth in infrastructure spending of the government. TIPCO Asphalt is the leading manufacturer and distributor of asphalt products in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region.

In just 15 years, Phoenix Petroleum has grown from five stations in Mindanao to 530 nationwide, making it the fastest-growing oil company in the Philippines. It was listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange on July 2007, becoming the first oil company to list after the industry was deregulated in 1998.