Vibra Expands Fuel Station Network at Record Pace

Vibra Energia is expanding its fuel station network at an unprecedented rate. The company added its brand to 385 new stations in the first half of the year, nearly matching the 404 stations opened during the entirety of last year, which was already its highest volume in five years.

The rapid growth follows a crackdown on tax evasion and irregularities across the fuel sector, initiated a year ago by Operação Carbono Oculto. Analysts at Bradesco BBI led by Vicente Falanga noted that volume is shifting toward formal distributors such as Vibra, Ultrapar, and Raízen. Bradesco BBI identified five legal measures advancing by year-end, pointing to tighter enforcement in Rio de Janeiro as an additional tailwind for margins and market share.

Vibra complemented market conditions with internal initiatives, including data analytics, artificial intelligence, and direct field support. Executive Vice President of Retail Vanessa Gordilho stated that network churn fell 45% year over year, while the company reactivated 80 stations previously abandoned by their owners. Shares of Vibra are up about 70% over the past 12 months, while competitor Ultrapar gained 105%.