Fuel Oil & LP Gas Dealers Industry Profile

Companies in this industry sell fuel oil and liquefied petroleum (LP) gas, mostly used for heating and cooking. Propane accounts for the majority of LP gas sales. Major companies include AmeriGas Partners, Ferrellgas Partners, and Star Gas Partners, all based in the US, as well as Japan's Mitsui & Co, Ultrapar Participações of Brazil, and Dutch firm SHV Holdings.

Top countries for global consumption of fuel oil include China and Japan, which together account for about 15 percent of total usage, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy. Consumption of LP gas has expanded significantly in Africa, China, and the Middle East in the last decade, according to the World LP Gas Association.

The US fuel oil and LP gas dealer (fuel dealer) industry includes about 6,000 companies with combined annual revenue of about $38 billion. Domestic demand for US crude petroleum and natural gas, an indicator for fuel oil and LP gas dealers, is expected to grow at a high rate in the next two years, driven by a rising demand for energy. The increased availability and lower cost of natural gas, however, has resulted in stagnant and declining markets for LP gas and fuel oil as home heating sources.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural heating needs drive demand. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations, low-cost purchasing, and competitive pricing. Large companies ...