The latest filling station to open in Romania is located in Arad- a greenfield investment worth around 1 million euros.
"MOL Romania's gross investments in the development of its filling station network (excluding land costs) revolve around 150m euros," stated Zsolt Szalay, country chairman of MOL Romania.
MOL's domestic subsidiary ranks fourth on the market, and holds, depending on the sales volumes generated in the first half, a 12% market share. The first station under the MOL brand opened in 1995, whilst a significant step in boosting the company's network was the takeover of Anglo-Dutch Shell group's filling stations in Romania. According to the latest information, the deal, carried out in two stages between 2003 and 2004, targeted the takeover of 81 filling stations, which were subsequently integrated into MOL Romania's portfolio.
This year, the company has earmarked an expansion budget for the filling station network that amounts to 20 million euros.
"MOL Romania aims to open some filling stations in premium locations, like the one we are opening in Arad," specified Szalay.
Most oil companies present on the market have announced similar expansion strategies, with a view to securing as large a market share as possible. The company's main rivals are Petrom, with over 32% of the market, Lukoil Romania, with around 25% of the market, Rompetrol with 25% and Agip Romania, which holds around 2% of the market.
In the first six months of 2008, MOL Romania saw its turnover rise by 24%, in RON, to a level of around 1,052.9m RON (286.9m euros) against the same period last year, when the company reported turnover worth 849.15m RON (255m euros).
Turnover growth came amid an unprecedented increase in prices at the pump in the wake of rising oil prices on international markets, in the context where sold volumes remained at a constant level for the first six months of 2007.
According to the company's representatives, average sales per filling station registered a slight decline of 4% in the first six months of this year compared with the corresponding period last year, after the number of filling stations increased.
Pentru alte știri, analize, articole și informații din business în timp real urmărește Ziarul Financiar pe WhatsApp Channels
