Saudi Aramco officially returned to the Philippine retail fuel market on Thursday, July 16, 2026, opening its first service station in Parañaque City. The launch, executed through a partnership with Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc., signals a strategic expansion into Southeast Asia, though motorists should not expect immediate price discounts.
The new station, located along Dr. A. Santos Avenue in Sucat, marks a significant milestone for the Dhahran-based energy giant. This return to the Philippine downstream market comes 17 years after the company divested its previous 40 percent stake in Petron Corp. in 2008.
Retail Strategy and Pricing Expectations
Despite the arrival of a global industry leader, local consumers hoping for a price war may be disappointed. Early indicators from the Sucat site suggest that Aramco intends to align its pricing with dominant local competitors rather than undercutting them. At the time of the launch, diesel was priced at ₱77.4 and ₱81.6 per liter, while regular gasoline (RON91) stood at ₱75.3 per liter. The company’s proprietary premium blend, ProForce, is retailing at ₱80.5 per liter.
Retail operations at the site remain subject to the Department of Energy’s weekly regulated pricing adjustments, as the country navigates a national energy emergency. Unioil President Kenneth Pundanera framed the partnership as a homecoming, noting that Aramco has been part of the Philippine energy story before
and now returns as a visible brand for Filipinos to experience firsthand.
Network Expansion and ProForce Technology
The Parañaque station is only the beginning of a larger infrastructure rollout. Pundanera confirmed that three additional locations are already undergoing conversion to the Aramco brand: Quezon Avenue and North EDSA in Quezon City, and a site along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). A key component of this retail push is the introduction of the company’s signature global fuel line, ProForce.
Ziyad Juraifani, Aramco vice president of retail
Global Financial Performance and Strategic Shifts
The Philippine retail expansion coincides with a period of financial growth for the parent company. In November 2025, CNBC reported that Saudi Aramco posted a 0.9% increase in third-quarter profit, reporting an adjusted net income of $27.98 billion. This performance beat analyst expectations despite ongoing pressure on global oil prices, which had seen Brent crude fall over 12% year-to-date as of that report.
Aramco CEO Amin Nasser attributed the strong results to production efficiency, stating, We increased production with minimal incremental cost, and reliably supplied the oil, gas and associated products our customers depend on, driving strong financial performance and quarterly earnings growth.
Beyond traditional oil and gas, the company is diversifying its portfolio. Aramco recently acquired a minority stake in the artificial intelligence company HUMAIN, a move Nasser described as vital for the crucial and rapidly evolving AI sector.
Additionally, the firm continues to consolidate its refining assets, having recently increased its stake in Petro Rabigh to roughly 60% through a $701.8 million transaction with Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical.
Market Positioning and Future Outlook
While Aramco focuses on high-tech integration and global asset optimization, its Philippine retail venture represents a specific bet on Southeast Asian consumer growth. The company’s current focus on market testing at the Sucat station indicates a cautious approach to the Philippine landscape. With three more stations slated for opening, the success of the ProForce premium fuel line will likely determine the pace of future network expansion in the country.
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