Who imported the most: TOP-5 fuel importers of 2023

The A-95 consulting group, based on its own research, identified the five largest importers of gasoline and diesel fuel in January-April 2023.

In total, 518,000 tons of gasoline and 1,987,000 tons of diesel fuel were imported in the four months of 2023, which is almost twice as much for both items than in the same period last year. Such a jump is due to a low base of comparison, since the import of oil products to Ukraine in March-April 2022 was minimal due to the start of a full-scale war.

In both ratings, the first two places are occupied by the OKKO and WOG networks, which are leaders in the retail sale of fuel. OKKO confidently maintains the status of the largest seller of gasoline, occupying 27% of total imports. Meanwhile, WOG, which was ranked second, imported a volume equal to the combined volume of the next two ranking networks: “Privat” and UPG.

The Privat group took the third position among gasoline importers due to the nationalization of Ukrtatnafta at the end of 2022. Despite the gas station network, which includes more than 900 stations, the most powerful retailer took only the seventh position in the rating of diesel importers.

The fourth place in the gasoline rating was taken by “Ukrpaletsystems”. It should be noted that although its UPG network is more than ten times smaller than the “private” one, the volume of gasoline imported into it is only 13.7% smaller.

Volodymyr Petrenko’s company showed the most tangible result in the supply of diesel fuel. It held a strong “diesel” position even before, importing up to 80,000 tons of product in some months of 2021. After acquiring a marine terminal in Poland, UPG announced a sharp increase in supplies and a rise to a leadership position in Ukraine. In recent months, UPG has been “pushing” for second place with WOG, but so far is in third place after four months.

According to all indications, BRSM-Nafta, which in January-February imported 6.1 and 5.4 thousand tons of gasoline, respectively, should have been on the fifth step of the “gasoline” rating of importers. But for unknown reasons (actually known) it completely stopped importing in March and April. Obviously, the operator completely switched to a product of its own production, especially since, according to the available information, in 2022 this group of companies was replenished with another “mini” in the Chernihiv region. If we imagine that BRSM does not have its own “blending”, then Andriy Biba’s network could claim the third place in the ranking, and not the seventh in fact.

The flight of “BRSM” customers, which began in 2022, is clearly visible in the supply of diesel. In four months, 45,000 tons, or twice less than the monthly average of 2021, and, as a result, the penultimate position in the top 10 diesel importers. It should be noted that, unlike gasoline, the import of diesel “BRSM” has not stopped, which once again indicates the leading role of mini-refineries in supplying the network with gasoline – the output of diesel at these productions is minimal.

BRSM’s active return to small-scale oil refining only pleased the well-known wholesale player NP-Trading, which, thanks to hard work, unexpectedly closed the top 5 among gasoline importers in 2023.

“Alliance Energо Trade” became the largest importer of diesel fuel among the group companies. Behind her is the fourth position in the overall standings. Compared to the same period in 2022, the company has the smallest increase in volumes – only 10.6%. At the same time, this indicates that last year AET was one of the first to pick up a good pace of imports through the western border, thanks in particular to powerful logistics capabilities.

This year, AET won the leadership in a tough fight with its traditional competitor – the Cantarel group of companies, which operates on the market of light petroleum products through the operators “Payd” and “Evrostandard”. Last year, AET surpassed its colleagues from Odesa in terms of volumes by more than twice, and in January-April 2023, “Cantarel” lacked only 2.4 thousand tons to catch up with AET. As a result, an honorable fifth place in the national “diesel” standings.

We should also note number 6 – “Ukrzaliznytsia”, which in 2022 became an importer of fuel thanks to the permission of the Cabinet of Ministers to enter into direct contracts with foreign suppliers. This finally removed the constant procurement scandals from the agenda and even made it possible to make the UZ a kind of indicator of the adequacy of import contracts. Meanwhile, judging by the volume of imports, UZ was not destined to enter the wholesale market and sell fuel on the market, although such intentions were heard. Moreover, the actual consumption of “railway workers” is also under threat: due to the increase in tariffs, at least the “oil” people began to actively switch to gasoline trucks.

The first four months seemed quite productive. As for gasoline and diesel, there is intrigue in the ranking, it is very likely that the favorites of the race will change places more than once.

Source: https://enkorr.ua/uk/news/hto_navz_nayblshe_top-5_mporterv_palnogo_2023-go/254712