Surplus of 350 gas stations in Serbia !

According to data from the end of 2004, the number of gas stations in Serbia is by one third bigger than in Hungary, twice as big as in Croatia, three times bigger than in Slovenia and five times bigger than in Macedonia.

The statistics says: There are 1,264 registered gas stations in Serbia, 967 in Hungary, 591 in Croatia, 408 in Slovenia, 192 in Macedonia.

According to data provided by Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, Petroleum Industry of Serbia has 490 gas stations at its disposal. "Lukoil-Beopetrol" holds property over about 200 gas stations, Stock Company "Nafta" has chain of 228 gas stations, "AVIA Petrobart" has 80, whereas Greek and Austrian companies "EKO-Ju" and "OMV" have 16 gas stations each. There is also the third group in Serbia made of numerous minor domestic owners who together own 250 gas stations. Thus, total number of gas stations in Serbia is 1,264.

On the basis of few paralel researches of similar market of derivatives, the experts made the conclusion that the optimal number of gas stations in Serbia is 800 - 900! The conclusion is that, if the experts are right, 350 gas stations on the market of Serbia last year were - surplus.

Estimates of the experts point to the fact that in less than a year situation on the market will start to change radically: about 400 gas stations will be closed due to non-profitability, while with the entrance of one or more strategic partners in NIS, only one, or two at most, foreign companies will dominate on the roads and streets of Serbia in 2007. In such "system" only the best will survive.