COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 422720

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals)

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

18companies1893–2000founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedNippon Oil CorporationFoundedNippon Oil Corporation
1893
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedAquila, Inc.FoundedAquila, Inc.
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedPendleton Grain Growers Inc.FoundedPendleton Grain Growers Inc.
1930
FoundedCargill, IncorporatedFoundedCargill, Incorporated
1936
FoundedTonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K.FoundedTonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedGiant Industries, Inc.FoundedGiant Industries, Inc.
1969
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.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedWorld Fuel Services CorporationFoundedWorld Fuel Services Corporation
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
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.
FoundedPennzoil-Quaker State CompanyFoundedPennzoil-Quaker State Company
1998
FoundedE.On AGFoundedE.On AG
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

Nippon Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1893 · Japan
Nippon Oil Corporation is Japan's largest importer and distributor of petroleum products, controlling about 25 percent…
Nippon Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1893 · Japan
Nippon Oil Corporation is Japan's largest importer and distributor of petroleum products, controlling about 25 percent…
Aquila, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Aquila, Inc.
Aquila, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Aquila, Inc.
Pendleton Grain Growers Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Pendleton Grain Growers Inc.
Pendleton Grain Growers Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Pendleton Grain Growers Inc.
Cargill, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1936
Cargill, Incorporated is the largest private corporation in the United States.
Cargill, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1936
Cargill, Incorporated is the largest private corporation in the United States.
TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K. →
Active · founded 1939 · Japan
TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K.
TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K. →
Active · founded 1939 · Japan
TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K.
Giant Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Early 1980s:Competition from the oil majors forces Acridge to close all his stations in the Phoenix metro area and to…
Giant Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Early 1980s:Competition from the oil majors forces Acridge to close all his stations in the Phoenix metro area and to…
World Fuel Services Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
World Fuel Services Corporation (WFSC) is a leading downstream marketer of aviation and marine fuel products.
World Fuel Services Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
World Fuel Services Corporation (WFSC) is a leading downstream marketer of aviation and marine fuel products.
Pennzoil-Quaker State Company →
Active · founded 1998
The Pennzoil-Quaker State Company is a leading worldwide automotive consumer products company formed in 1998, through…
Pennzoil-Quaker State Company →
Active · founded 1998
The Pennzoil-Quaker State Company is a leading worldwide automotive consumer products company formed in 1998, through…
E.On AG →
Active · founded 2000 · Germany
E.On AG is the largest listed power generation company in Europe.
E.On AG →
Active · founded 2000 · Germany
E.On AG is the largest listed power generation company in Europe.
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