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Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2028)

IBISWorld IBISWorld London, United Kingdom Last Updated: March 2024 SIC UK-G473

Revenue

£316.6bn

2024-25

£324.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xbn

Employees

789k

Businesses

115k

Wages

£X.Xbn

Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing in the UK industry analysis

Automotive fuel retailers' revenue is forecast to sink at a compound annual rate of 5.3% to €316.6 billion over the five years through 2024. Retailers have endured a challenging and volatile period, including the shocks to oil prices amid the COVID-19 outbreak and Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as having to contend with intense competition from supermarkets and growing environmental concerns. Rising numbers of individuals are seeking ultra-low emission vehicles like electric vehicles or are cutting their car usage overall and opting for public transport alternatives. Legislative changes like adopting low-emission zones in European city centres and prospective bans on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars are also driving electric vehicle adoption. Petrol stations are restructuring in the face of soaring competition, boosting investment in new technology and cleaner fuel options.  

Trends and Insights

  • Fuel prices are sky-high following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is proving to have long-lasting inflationary pressure on oil prices, which is trickling down to the price at the pump.
  • Diesel is the favoured fuel in Europe. Diesel has long been preferred over petrol by Europeans, although there is a growing trend towards cleaner fuels like biodiesel.
  • A handful of companies dominate the fuel retailing scene in Europe. The major fuel retailers benefit from economies of scale and continent-wide brand recognition, making it hard for new retailers to gain a foothold.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom is £316.6bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom in 2024?

There are 115k businesses in the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 7.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom include?

Petrol and Diesel are part of the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing industry in the United Kingdom.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Table of Contents

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

Many governments are forcing the uptake of low-emission vehicles. The EU and other major European countries, like the UK, are set to implement regulations restricting the sale of new diesel and petrol cars.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Profitability is limited by heavy fuel duties. In light of high fuel duties, fuel retailers are turning towards providing complementary services like car washes to boost profit.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Motor Vehicle Fuel Retailing in the UK industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and bottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2024)
  • Business Growth (2024)
  • Job Growth (2024)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2024)
  • Imports/Demand (2024)
  • Exports/Revenue (2024)
  • Revenue per Employee (2024)
  • Wages/Revenue (2024)
  • Employees per Establishment (2024)
  • Average Wage (2024)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

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)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

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