Unioil

Unioil Petroleum Philippines, Inc., commonly branded as Unioil, is a Philippine downstream oil company with activities spanning fuel trading, petroleum distribution, retail service stations, lubricants, and bitumen and asphalt products. The business began in 1966 as a lubricant manufacturer and distributor established by the Chinese-Filipino Co family. Its early manufacturing and distribution operations were based in Valenzuela, positioning the company initially within the lubricants segment rather than as a nationwide gasoline retailer. The company broadened its scope after the deregulation of the Philippine petroleum industry in 1998. It entered fuel trading, distribution, and retailing, gradually building a network of branded service stations. Unioil established an oil depot in Mindanao in 2003, supporting its distribution capabilities outside Luzon. Around 2012, its retail presence comprised approximately 30 stations in Metro Manila, Cavite, Pampanga, and Laguna. During the same period, the company promoted Euro IV diesel before the Philippine environmental timetable required oil companies to offer diesel of that standard or higher. Unioil continued to emphasize fuel-quality upgrades. In September 2017 it began selling Euro V diesel, and in November of that year it opened a Quezon City service station with an electric-vehicle charging facility. The charging installation was presented as an early example of an electric-vehicle charging site operated by a Philippine oil company. By this period, the company had approximately 61 stations, concentrated mainly in Metro Manila. Its network reached 100 stations in late 2022 with the opening of a site in Cavite. The company has also pursued corporate and geographic expansion. In 2020, Unioil acquired a 78.04 percent interest in ChemPhil, Inc., a company listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange and formerly known as Chemical Industries of the Philippines. The transaction was described as a potential platform for investments connected with infrastructure-related industries, including construction equipment, rather than simply a retail-fuel transaction. In 2024, Unioil opened a terminal in San Fernando, Cebu, intended to support expansion into the Visayas and Mindanao. By February 2025, the company was reported to have 165 retail stations and four terminals in the Philippines. Unioil's operating model combines retail fuel sales with supply-chain and industrial petroleum activities. Its stations sell gasoline and diesel, while the broader group blends and distributes lubricants and handles bitumen and asphalt. Some locations also provide electric-vehicle charging. The company has announced strategic relationships involving international energy businesses: Repsol Downstream Internacional acquired a 40 percent interest in Unioil Lubricants Inc., and Saudi Aramco announced an agreement to acquire a 25 percent stake in Unioil. The reported Aramco partnership is associated with plans to introduce products including Aramco Proforce premium fuels and Valvoline lubricants. These arrangements indicate an effort to combine a growing Philippine retail and terminal network with international fuel, lubricant, and technology capabilities.

Unioil Petroleum Philippines, Inc. was established in 1966 by the Chinese-Filipino Co family. Its original business was the manufacture and distribution of lubricants, with a facility in Valenzuela. This starting point gave the company experience in petroleum-derived products before it entered the broader fuel market. A major strategic change followed the deregulation of the Philippine petroleum industry in 1998. Unioil expanded into fuel trading, distribution, and retailing, creating a vertically broader business that could combine product supply with branded service stations. In 2003, it established an oil depot in Mindanao. The depot supported the company's ability to distribute products beyond its original Luzon base, while its retail footprint remained relatively modest during the early expansion period. By 2012, Unioil operated about 30 service stations in Metro Manila, Cavite, Pampanga, and Laguna. The company used fuel-quality development as one way to distinguish its retail offer. In February 2012, it introduced Euro IV diesel ahead of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources timetable for requiring diesel of that standard or higher. In September 2017, Unioil moved to Euro V diesel. Later that year, it opened a Quezon City station with an electric-vehicle charging facility, reflecting an early attempt by a Philippine fuel retailer to incorporate electric mobility into its station network. The retail network expanded to about 61 stations around 2017 and reached its 100th station in Cavite in late 2022. The company subsequently invested in logistics and regional reach. In 2024, it opened a terminal in San Fernando, Cebu, with the stated purpose of supporting growth in the Visayas and Mindanao. By February 2025, Unioil was reported to have 165 retail stations and four terminals in the Philippines. Unioil also used corporate transactions to broaden its strategic options. In February 2020, it acquired 78.04 percent of ChemPhil, Inc., a Philippine Stock Exchange-listed company formerly known as Chemical Industries of the Philippines. The acquisition was described as a backdoor-listing vehicle for possible investments in sectors associated with the government's infrastructure program, including construction equipment. Separately, Unioil developed international partnerships in lubricants and fuels. Repsol Downstream Internacional acquired a 40 percent stake in Unioil Lubricants Inc., while Saudi Aramco announced a definitive agreement to acquire a 25 percent stake in Unioil. The Aramco relationship was associated with plans to introduce Aramco Proforce premium fuel and Valvoline lubricant products. Today, Unioil's described business scope includes gasoline and diesel retailing, petroleum distribution, lubricant blending and distribution, bitumen and asphalt, terminal infrastructure, and selected electric-vehicle charging services. Its geographic strategy remains centered on the Philippines, with the Cebu terminal and the Mindanao depot supporting a wider national footprint.

• 2025

  International lubricant and fuel partnerships announced

  [1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  Repsol acquired an interest in Unioil Lubricants, while Saudi Aramco announced an agreement to acquire a minority stake in Unioil.

• 2024

  Cebu terminal opened

  [1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  A terminal in San Fernando, Cebu, was opened to support expansion into the Visayas and Mindanao.

• 2022

  One-hundredth service station opened

  [1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  Unioil opened its 100th service station in Cavite.

• 2020

  ChemPhil acquisition

  [1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  Unioil acquired a 78.04 percent interest in ChemPhil, Inc., a listed Philippine company.

• 2017

  Euro V diesel and EV charging introduced

  [1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  The company began selling Euro V diesel and opened a Quezon City station with an electric-vehicle charging facility.

• 2012

  Euro IV diesel introduced

  [1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  Unioil introduced Euro IV diesel before the national requirement for diesel of that standard or higher took effect.

• 2003

  Mindanao depot established

  [1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  Unioil established an oil depot in Mindanao to support its distribution activities.

• 1998

  Expansion after petroleum deregulation

  [1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  Following deregulation of the Philippine petroleum industry, Unioil expanded into fuel trading, distribution, and retailing.

• 1966

  Company established as a lubricant business

  [1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  The Co family established Unioil as a lubricant manufacturer and distributor, operating from a facility in Valenzuela.

A Philippine downstream petroleum brand combining fuel retail, distribution infrastructure, lubricants, and selected lower-emission and electric-mobility services. Its positioning emphasizes fuel quality, network expansion, and partnerships with international energy companies.

• Motor fuel

  Gasoline

  Unioil sells gasoline through its Philippine service-station network. The retail gasoline business developed after the company's expansion into fuel trading, distribution, and retailing following petroleum-sector deregulation in 1998.

• Motor fuel · 2017

  Euro V diesel

  Unioil began selling Euro V diesel in September 2017. The product forms part of the company's fuel-quality positioning and is distributed through its service stations.

• Lubricants · 1966

  Lubricants

  Lubricants were Unioil's original business and remain a core activity. The group blends and distributes lubricants through Unioil Lubricants Inc., which entered a strategic relationship with Repsol Downstream Internacional.

• Industrial petroleum products

  Bitumen and asphalt

  The Unioil Group supplies bitumen and asphalt for industrial and infrastructure-related applications as part of its broader petroleum-products portfolio.

• Energy services · 2017

  Electric-vehicle charging

  Some Unioil service stations provide electric-vehicle charging. The company publicized a Quezon City charging facility opened in 2017 as an early charging installation at a Philippine oil-company station.

• 2025

  Form international strategic partnershipsM&A

  Background

  Unioil pursued international participation in its lubricant and downstream fuel businesses.

  Action taken

  Repsol Downstream Internacional acquired 40 percent of Unioil Lubricants Inc., while Saudi Aramco agreed to acquire 25 percent of Unioil.

  Aftermath

  The partnerships were associated with expanded lubricant offerings and planned Aramco Proforce and Valvoline products in the Philippines.

  Source

• 2024

  Expand regional terminal infrastructureStrategy

  Background

  Unioil planned to strengthen its presence in the Visayas and Mindanao.

  Action taken

  The company opened a terminal in San Fernando, Cebu.

  Aftermath

  The terminal was intended to support wider Philippine distribution and retail expansion.

  Source

• 2020

  Acquire ChemPhil majority stakeM&A

  Background

  Unioil sought a corporate platform for potential investments connected with infrastructure-related industries.

  Action taken

  Unioil acquired 78.04 percent of ChemPhil, Inc.

  Aftermath

  The transaction gave Unioil control of a Philippine-listed company and a possible vehicle for diversification.

  Source

• 2017

  Move to Euro V dieselProduct launch

  Background

  Unioil continued its stated emphasis on higher fuel standards.

  Action taken

  The company began selling Euro V diesel in September 2017.

  Aftermath

  Euro V became part of the company's retail fuel offer.

  Source

• 2017

  Add electric-vehicle charging at a service stationProduct launch

  Background

  Electric mobility was beginning to emerge as an adjacent service opportunity for fuel retailers.

  Action taken

  Unioil opened an electric charging facility at a Quezon City station on November 27, 2017.

  Aftermath

  The facility broadened the services available at selected Unioil stations beyond conventional petroleum fuels.

  Source

• 2012

  Introduce Euro IV dieselProduct launch

  Background

  The company sought to offer higher-standard diesel before the national timetable requiring Euro IV or higher diesel.

  Action taken

  Unioil introduced Euro IV diesel in February 2012.

  Aftermath

  The launch reinforced Unioil's fuel-quality positioning ahead of the regulatory deadline.

  Source

• 1998

  Enter fuel trading and retailingStrategy

  Background

  The Philippine petroleum industry was deregulated, creating conditions for Unioil to move beyond lubricants.

  Action taken

  Unioil expanded into fuel trading, distribution, and service-station retailing.

  Aftermath

  The move established the downstream fuel business that became central to the Unioil brand.

  Source

• 2025

  Repsol takes stake in Unioil Lubricants[1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Repsol Downstream Internacional, a Repsol subsidiary, acquired a 40 percent interest in Unioil Lubricants Inc., Unioil Group's lubricant manufacturing and distribution arm.

• 2025

  Aramco agrees to acquire a stake in Unioil[1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Product launch

  Saudi Aramco announced a definitive agreement to acquire a 25 percent interest in Unioil. The partnership was linked to planned Aramco-branded premium fuels and lubricant products in the Philippine market.

• 2024

  Unioil opens Cebu terminal[1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Unioil opened a terminal in San Fernando, Cebu, to support its planned expansion into the Visayas and Mindanao.

• 2020

  Unioil acquires majority interest in ChemPhil[1]Unioilen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Unioil acquired 78.04 percent of Philippine Stock Exchange-listed ChemPhil, Inc. The transaction was described as a possible vehicle for investments related to infrastructure projects and associated industries.

1. 1Unioilen.wikipedia.org