"Star Oil Overtakes GOIL as Market Leader in Petroleum Sales for January to May\u00a0"

Star Oil Overtakes GOIL as Market Leader in Petroleum Sales for January to May 

Indigenous oil marketing firm, Star Oil, has emerged as the industry leader in petroleum product sales for the first five months of 2025, overtaking state-owned GOIL, which has traditionally held the top spot in the sector.

This was revealed in the latest Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) Performance Statistics published by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), covering the period January to May 2025.

The data shows that Star Oil sold a total of 336.3 million litres of petroleum products, the highest among more than 200 OMCs operating in the country. The company’s half-year figures indicate total sales of 403 million litres.

For the period under review, Star Oil’s sales comprised 193.9 million litres of petrol, 139.3 million litres of diesel, and 3.1 million litres of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

GOIL, now occupying the second position, sold 271.3 million litres between January and May, with petrol accounting for 156 million litres, diesel 111 million litres, and LPG 3.6 million litres.

Vivo Energy, operators of the Shell brand, secured third place with total sales of 206 million litres—110 million litres of petrol and 96 million litres of diesel.

TotalEnergies followed with 149 million litres sold, including 71 million litres of petrol, 75 million litres of diesel, and 2.3 million litres of LPG.

Zen Petroleum, another indigenous player with a strong focus on the mining sector, rounded off the top five with total sales of 82 million litres—46 million litres of petrol and 42 million litres of diesel.

The rankings for the first five months of 2025 are as follows:

1. Star Oil

2. GOIL

3. Vivo Energy (Shell)

4. TotalEnergies

5. Zen Petroleum

The OMCs’ performance statistics also highlighted notable performances from other players such as Moari Oil Company, which sold 85 million litres, Benab Oil with 77 million litres, and Frimps Oil with 56 million litres.

In total, the NPA data showed that over 2.4 billion litres of petroleum products were sold across the country between January and May 2025.

Strong Financials and Expansion Drive

Star Oil’s rise to the top comes on the back of strong financial performance and an aggressive expansion strategy. The company’s published financial statements for the first six months of the year reveal that it paid GH¢1.1 billion in taxes to the government.

The company currently employs 2,546 people directly and operates 240 fuel stations nationwide—one of the largest networks in the country.

Industry analysts note that while Star Oil has, in the past, briefly led the market in isolated months, the latest data points to a more sustained consolidation of its market position.

With intensifying competition among both indigenous and multinational firms, the Ghanaian downstream petroleum market is witnessing dynamic shifts that are expected to continue into the second half of the year.