Por que a Vibra está abrindo postos como nunca

Vibra Energia is opening fuel stations at an unprecedented pace, adding 385 new stations in the first half of this year alone. This is nearly the same number of stations the company opened throughout the previous year, which saw the highest volume of branding in five years. According to Vanessa Gordilho, Vibra's vice-president of retail, "This is a historic record here."

These figures reflect the industry's results following the Carbono Oculto operation, which led to numerous police investigations and government measures against tax evasion and tax avoidance in the sector. Bradesco BBI recently reported that this crackdown on irregularities has driven volumes from the informal market to the formal market, benefiting not only giants like Vibra, Ultrapar, and Raízen, but also smaller networks.

Analysts say the "formal" fuel distribution business seems healthier than ever, with four different owners expressing a positive outlook on the current competitive landscape and margin expansion. For Vibra's executive, this has created a more favorable environment for serious businesses. However, this is not the only factor behind the company's growth; it has also aided competitors.

The favorable momentum has combined with various measures Vibra has taken to strengthen its network, such as using data, artificial intelligence, and fieldwork to support each station's performance. "It's a mix of things," Vanessa explained. "If the repression against tax evaders had happened without our work, we wouldn't have grown as we have."

This strategy has led to not only record-breaking new stations but also a 45% reduction in the company's network churn compared to annual figures. The executive added that reactivating 80 abandoned stations and supporting their return to optimal operation has contributed to this growth. Vibra's stock has risen around 70% over the past year, while Ultrapar's stock, which owns Ipiranga, has advanced 105%.

Despite this recent surge, the Bradesco team remains optimistic about the sector, citing recent reinforcement of anti-irregularity surveillance in Rio de Janeiro and other anti-tax evasion legislation as factors contributing to more favorable winds for formal players, likely resulting in increased market share and healthy margins.