COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 424720

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (Except Bulk Stations and Terminals)

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

16companies1822–1988founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedGroupe BolloréFoundedGroupe Bolloré
1822
FoundedGroupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.FoundedGroupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.FoundedGroupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.FoundedGroupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.
1851
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedIpiranga S.A.FoundedIpiranga S.A.
1933
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedCompagnie Financière Sucres et Denrées S.A.FoundedCompagnie Financière Sucres et Denrées S.A.
1952
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedValero Energy CorporationFoundedValero Energy Corporation
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedPetron CorporationFoundedPetron Corporation
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedHellenic Petroleum SAFoundedHellenic Petroleum SA
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Groupe Bolloré →
Active · founded 1822 · France
Groupe Bolloré is a diversified industrial conglomerate with leadership status in most of its operating areas.
Groupe Bolloré →
Active · founded 1822 · France
Groupe Bolloré is a diversified industrial conglomerate with leadership status in most of its operating areas.
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A. →
Active · founded 1851 · France
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A. →
Active · founded 1851 · France
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A. →
Active · founded 1851 · France
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A. →
Active · founded 1851 · France
Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A.
Ipiranga S.A. →
Active · founded 1933 · Brazil
One of Brazil's largest privately held companies, Ipiranga S.A.
Ipiranga S.A. →
Active · founded 1933 · Brazil
One of Brazil's largest privately held companies, Ipiranga S.A.
Compagnie Financière Sucres et Denrées S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · France
By 1990, Sucden suffered losses of more than FFr476 million, the first loss in the company's history.
Compagnie Financière Sucres et Denrées S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · France
By 1990, Sucden suffered losses of more than FFr476 million, the first loss in the company's history.
Valero Energy Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Valero Energy Corporation is the leading independent oil refiner in the United States.
Valero Energy Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Valero Energy Corporation is the leading independent oil refiner in the United States.
Petron Corporation →
Active · founded 1987 · Philippines
Petron Corporation is the Philippines' leading refiner, marketer, and distributor of petroleum-based products.
Petron Corporation →
Active · founded 1987 · Philippines
Petron Corporation is the Philippines' leading refiner, marketer, and distributor of petroleum-based products.
Hellenic Petroleum SA →
Active · founded 1988 · Greece
Hellenic Petroleum SA is the largest company in Greece and the leading petroleum refiner both in that country and in…
Hellenic Petroleum SA →
Active · founded 1988 · Greece
Hellenic Petroleum SA is the largest company in Greece and the leading petroleum refiner both in that country and in…
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