2010/2011 PRESS RELEASES:

PETRO.T.EX AFRICA 2011

New Forecourt Africa Expo targets petroleum retail market

Exhibition organisers Fair Consultants will be focusing on the rapidly-growing service station industry when they launch the all-new Forecourt Africa show next year as part of the Petro.t.ex Africa trade show. Petro.t.ex attracts exhibitors from all the major oil companies, parastatals and established suppliers, as well as smaller service providers and new entrants penetrating the petroleum industry.

 Running from 7 to 9 June 2011 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand alongside two other major trade shows (WaterTec Africa and Pumps Valves & Pipes Africa), Forecourt Africa will essentially function as an exhibition-within-an-exhibition and is formatted to highlight the wide range of products, equipment and service providers in the industry, based around petroleum retailers in the highly competitive forecourt sector.

 “In South Africa alone, there are over 4 600 service station forecourts, both company-owned and franchised, which undertake the traditional role of distributing fuel products, and also cater to a range of customers, incorporating car wash and valet  services, convenience stores, ATM facilities, bakeries, and occasionally, fully-fledged restaurants,” says organiser Mark Burridge of Fair Consultants. “Given the pace at which this sector is developing, it seemed the logical path to create a space for the forecourt industry within the greater Petro.t.ex show.  It will provide potential new vendors with the opportunity to meet representatives of the major oil companies, fuel suppliers and forecourt equipment suppliers, and enable suppliers to identify viable new vendors for franchise opportunities in the forecourt market.”

The South African forecourt industry was estimated at R4.7 billion in 2006.  According to Moira Dewar, director of retail services at Nielsen, 2008 saw enormous growth in that market with more than 470 shops opening. Last year in South Africa, convenience turnover was more than R4-billion compared to fuel turnover which was R3.6-billion.

According to the SA Petroleum Retailers Associaton (SAPRA), the current market size is about 22 billion litres per year. Retail stations sell about 11-billion litres of petrol and 3,5-billion litres of diesel, and this equates to 14,5-billion litres a year on the retail market. The Rand value is difficult to determine due to price fluctuations. Currently (October 2010 in Gauteng) 93 octane ULP grade sells at R7.92 per litre and diesel at an unregulated price of about R7.70 per litre.

 According to Peter Noke, National Director of  SAPRA, this niche industry is in the throes of rapid evolution, which has placed new demands on those business owners who populate it. “The profile of the service station operator has changed dramatically during the past decade,” he says. “Business demands in the modern service station and convenience centre environment calls for sophisticated levels of business acumen, and that accounts for the fact that so many service station owners today are tertiary-qualified business professionals in the marketing, management and engineering fields.”

 SAPRA, which is one of the most active and fast-growing constituent associations of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation of South Africa (RMI), has  joined forces with Petro.t.ex in support of both the Forecourt Africa and Petro.t.ex exhibitions, as  have key industry organisations NERSA (National Energy Regulator of South Africa), SAPIA (South African Petroleum Industry Association), MEETI (Minerals and Energy Education and Training Institute), the Corrosion Institute of South Africa, and SASDA (South African Supplier Development Agency).

 Forecourt Africa has similar support from exhibitors from numerous areas in the forecourt industry:

• Oil majors promoting their forecourt franchises and petroleum products;
• Independent distributors of petroleum and petroleum-based products;
• Retail outlets promoting franchise offerings;
• Wholesalers of products sold through service station retail outlets;
• Transport and storage service operators;
• Banking and financial services;
• Cash-in-transit services;
• Insurance services;
• Tank installation and de-commissioning services;
• Fuel pump equipment sales, maintenance and repairs;
• Compressed air products and services
• Point-of-sale systems;
• Design services;
• Wash bay, car wash and jet wash services;
• Forecourt cleaning and painting services;
• LPG services;
• Hazardous area inspection and testing;
• Gauging and leak detection;
• Fuel management systems;
• Pipe work;
• Electrical systems;
• Tyre and air services;
• First aid, fire and training services.

 “This niche show will incorporate all aspects related to the running and improvement of service stations and forecourts throughout Africa,” adds Burridge. “Given the extensive industry support that the expo has been given, we are sure that it will be extremely well-received.”

Petro.t.ex Africa 2011 showcases major new projects and developments to the media and industry. It also provides a platform to display and market the latest industry innovations and technical advancements on offer. Covering a wide range of products and services, ranging from the latest refining technology and supply of fuel to the forecourt, to the nuts and bolts used in cross border pipelines, the exhibition puts industry producers and users, buyers and sellers together in a comfortable environment that is trade-focused and conducive to business. With ample space to display and walk, areas to relax and network, the expo follows a proven recipe for success and ensures good interaction between conference delegates, visitors and exhibitors alike.

 Petro.T.Ex Africa 2011 is co-located with the seventh international Pumps Valves and Pipes Africa (PVPA) and WaterTec Africa exhibitions.

 For more information on the exhibition, contact Mark Burridge at Fair Consultants. Tel: +21-713-3360. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Website: www.fairconsultants.com.

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2009 PRESS RELEASES:

1. Challenges facing the petrochemical sector
2. Engen sees Petro.t.ex Expo as a stepping stone in its African ambition
3. "Green" technologies needed for petrochemical industry
4. Petrochemical powerhouses participating in Petro.t.ex
5. Petro.t.ex Africa: Rising To The Challenge!