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Petrol Stations in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Joseph Haigh Joseph Haigh London, United Kingdom Last Updated: November 2024 SIC G47.300

Revenue

£25.7bn

2024-25

£25.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

43,413

Businesses

2,229

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Petrol Stations in the UK industry analysis

Over the five years through 2024-25, petrol station revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 2.1% to £25.7 billion. Petrol stations have contended with price competition from supermarkets and growing environmental concerns, which have prompted people to seek more fuel-efficient or ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs). The use of ULEVs and alternative transport (e.g. trains and buses) has increased thanks to legislative changes. In response to competitive pressures, petrol stations have restructured, invested in new technology and expanded their revenue streams by adding convenience stores to forecourts, aiming to maintain profit and gain a competitive edge.

Trends and Insights

  • Climbing competition constrains petrol stations’ growth. Low prices at supermarket forecourts draw customers away from specialist petrol stations. Supermarkets use their large customer bases to draw in drivers; many offer loyalty schemes.
  • Strong demand for petrol keeps revenue coming in. The inelastic demand for fuel means higher fuel prices translate into higher revenue. Rich motorists concerned about fuel performance may also choose to fill up with premium unleaded grades with a higher-octane rating.
  • The South East has the largest number of cars. The region is highly populated and has a high level of car ownership, which attracts petrol stations to the area.
  • Petrol stations compete mainly on price and location. People often purchase from the station, which offers the best price. To attract more drivers, petrol stations should base themselves in regions with high car ownership or near motorways.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £25.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Emerging competition proves troublesome for petrol stations

  • UK supermarkets continue to creep into the fuel retailing market through their forecourts. Supermarkets use their large customer bases to draw in drivers, offering loyalty schemes that reward customers for shopping in-store and purchasing fuel.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Petrol Stations in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
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Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Continued growth in environmental awareness shifts the fuel retailing landscape

  • First introduced in 2019, London's ULEZ zone expanded in 2021 and 2023, improving London's air quality, benefitting public health and helping to combat climate change.

Biggest companies in the Petrol Stations in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Petrol Stations in the UK industry for Alfabank-Adres to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Petrol Stations in the UK
Products & Services
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Petrol , Diesel and Convenience stores. Petrol is the largest segment of the Petrol Stations in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Inelastic demand for petrol pushes up sales

  • Unleaded petrol has a research octane number (RON) of at least 95 – RON is a fuel rating system; generally, high-performance fuels have higher RONs.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry directly sell automotive fuel, including petrol, diesel, autogas and alternative fuels, to consumers. Most petrol stations also operate convenience stores and some provide car-washing services. The industry includes oil company-owned and -operated outlets, oil company-owned and dealer-operated outlets and dealer-owned and -operated stores.

What's included in this industry?

PetrolDiesel Convenience store and food offeringsAlternative fuels Car washes

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BIOFUELSDIESEL-ENGINED ROAD VEHICLE (DERV) FUELRESEARCH OCTANE NUMBER (RON)FORECOURTS

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 47.30 - Petrol Stations in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Climbing competition constrains petrol stations’ growth. Low prices at supermarket forecourts draw customers away from specialist petrol stations. Supermarkets use their larg...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Strong demand for petrol keeps revenue coming in. The inelastic demand for fuel means higher fuel prices translate into higher revenue. Rich motorists concerned about fuel pe...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The South East has the largest number of cars. The region is highly populated and has a high level of car ownership, which attracts petrol stations to the area.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Petrol stations compete mainly on price and location. People often purchase from the station, which offers the best price. To attract more drivers, petrol stations should bas...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Euro Garages acquired by Asda Express Ltd. Euro Garages was acquired by Asda Express Ltd in 2024 as the company focuses on competing with the 'big four' supermarkets on price...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    Petrol stations face stringent safety and environmental regulations. These mainly concern tightly managing hazardous substances and adhering to strict design standards for oi...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Fuel prices have a big influence on profit. Fluctuations in the world price of crude oil have driven swings in fuel prices, creating volatile returns for petrol stations in r...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
    • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
    • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
    • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
    • Assets (2018-2022)
    • Liabilities (2018-2022)
    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Petrol Stations in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

    The market size of the Petrol Stations in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £25.7bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Petrol Stations in the UK industry in 2024?

    There are 2,229 businesses in the Petrol Stations in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Petrol Stations in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Petrol Stations in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Petrol Stations in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Petrol Stations in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

    What does the Petrol Stations in the UK in United Kingdom include?

    Petrol and Diesel are part of the Petrol Stations in the UK industry.

    How competitive is the Petrol Stations in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

    The level of competition is high and steady in the Petrol Stations in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    Competitors

    • Convenience Stores in the UK

    Complementors

    • Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair in the UK
    • Motor Vehicle Parts Retailers in the UK
    • Fuel Wholesaling in the UK

    International industries

    • Gas Stations with Convenience Stores in the US
    • Gas Stations in the US
    • Gas Stations with Convenience Stores in Canada
    • Gas Stations in Canada
    • Fuel Retailing in Australia

    View all industries in United Kingdom

    Methodology

    How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?

    Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in the UK include:

    • Office for National Statistics
    • Office for Budget Responsibility
    • Bank of England

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?

    Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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