From the trillion-dollar behemoths fueling global economies to the neighborhood corner store brewing your morning coffee, the gas station industry is a complex and vital economic engine, as shown by its staggering $678.4 billion in U.S. revenue last year alone.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the U.S. gasoline stations industry market size reached $678.4 billion in total revenue, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year
- Global gas station market was valued at $1.2 trillion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $1.5 trillion by 2030 at a CAGR of 2.8%
- U.S. convenience stores attached to gas stations generated $296 billion in in-store sales in 2022
- There were 115,285 retail fueling locations in the U.S. as of January 2024
- U.S. gas stations decreased by 74 from 2022 to 2023, averaging 2 closures per week
- 80% of U.S. gas stations are branded, with Top Tier certifications on 62% of sites
- U.S. dispensed 135.9 billion gallons of gasoline in 2023, down 0.7% from 2022
- Diesel fuel sales at U.S. retail reached 40.2 billion gallons in 2023
- U.S. gas stations sold 8.1 billion gallons of E85 in 2023, up 12% YoY
- U.S. convenience stores saw $296.8 billion in total inside sales in 2022, up 13.8%
- Packaged beverages accounted for 22.6% or $67 billion of U.S. c-store inside sales in 2022
- Cigarettes represented 22.8% of c-store gross margins, $15.2 billion profit in 2022
- U.S. gas station industry employment totaled 1.7 million jobs in 2023
- EV charging stations at U.S. gas stations grew 40% to 25,000 ports in 2023
- 45% of U.S. gas stations plan to add EV chargers by 2025
The global gas station industry shows strong revenue growth driven by fuel sales and convenience store earnings.
Convenience Store Sales
- U.S. convenience stores saw $296.8 billion in total inside sales in 2022, up 13.8%
- Packaged beverages accounted for 22.6% or $67 billion of U.S. c-store inside sales in 2022
- Cigarettes represented 22.8% of c-store gross margins, $15.2 billion profit in 2022
- Foodservice sales at U.S. c-stores hit $17.5 billion in 2022, up 20.3%
- Average in-store sales per U.S. c-store was $1.6 million in 2022
- Snacks category generated $42 billion in c-store sales, 15% of total in 2022
- Prepared food sales grew 15% to $12.4 billion in U.S. c-stores 2022
- Candy sales at c-stores: $11.2 billion, up 8.2% in 2022
- Alcohol sales contributed $26 billion to c-store inside sales in 2022
- 70% of U.S. c-stores offer fresh food, boosting sales by 25%
- Lottery sales totaled $80 billion across U.S. c-stores in 2022
- Average c-store foodservice check size rose to $8.50 in 2022
- Beverages (non-alc) sales $55 billion, 20% of c-store inside in 2022
- Tobacco vapor products sales up 12% to $10 billion in c-stores 2022
- Grocery items sales $38 billion, 13% share in U.S. c-stores 2022
- Average daily customer transactions per c-store: 1,200 in 2022
- Hot dispensed beverages sales $6.5 billion in c-stores 2022
- Health/energy drinks sales surged 18% to $8.2 billion 2022
- Average c-store gross margin 32.6% on inside sales in 2022
- Salty snacks sales $16.8 billion, up 10% in U.S. c-stores 2022
- U.S. c-stores captured 36.5% of all foodservice traffic in 2022
- Fuel-adjacent c-store sales profit $37 billion total in 2022
- Bottled water sales $7.9 billion, fastest growing in c-stores 2022
- 65% of c-store sales now food/beverage driven in 2022
- Car wash revenue at c-stores $2.5 billion in 2022, up 15%
Convenience Store Sales Interpretation
While America debates the merits of 'healthy living,' the humble convenience store quietly thrives as a brilliantly diversified vice-peddling, snack-hawking, coffee-fueled ecosystem that masterfully pairs our lottery ticket dreams with a side of taquitos.
Fuel Sales and Types
- U.S. dispensed 135.9 billion gallons of gasoline in 2023, down 0.7% from 2022
- Diesel fuel sales at U.S. retail reached 40.2 billion gallons in 2023
- U.S. gas stations sold 8.1 billion gallons of E85 in 2023, up 12% YoY
- Average U.S. gas station fuel volume was 1.18 million gallons in 2023
- Gasoline accounted for 77% of U.S. retail motor fuel sales by volume in 2023
- Premium gasoline sales grew 2.3% to 15.4 billion gallons in U.S. 2023
- U.S. propane autogas dispensed 1.2 billion gallons at retail in 2023
- Midwest U.S. consumed 32 billion gallons of gasoline in 2023
- 42% of U.S. gas stations offer diesel, dispensing 38 billion gallons annually
- Global gasoline demand hit 26.4 million bpd in 2023
- U.S. regular unleaded 87 octane was 68% of gasoline sales in 2023
- CNG sales at U.S. public stations reached 180 million GGE in 2023
- Europe diesel sales fell 5% to 320 billion liters in 2023
- India sold 37.2 million KL of petrol in FY2023
- U.S. gas stations with E15 grew to 3,800 sites, selling 500 million gallons in 2023
- Aviation gasoline sales minimal at 70 million gallons U.S. retail 2023
- UK petrol sales were 33 billion liters in 2023
- Biodiesel blended sales hit 3 billion gallons in U.S. 2023
- Average daily gasoline sales per U.S. station: 3,200 gallons in 2023
- Canada gasoline sales totaled 40 billion liters in 2023
- Australia unleaded petrol 91 RON dominant at 70% sales volume 2023
- Brazil ethanol sales at pumps: 27 billion liters in 2023
- Japan gasoline sales declined to 40 million KL in FY2023
- France gasoline sales 24 billion liters in 2023
- U.S. Top Tier gasoline stations sold 90% of premium fuel in 2023
- Global LNG for trucks at stations: 5 million tons in 2023
- U.S. highway diesel sales 25 billion gallons in 2023
- Germany petrol sales 28 billion liters down 4% in 2023
Fuel Sales and Types Interpretation
While the electric era hums on the horizon, the global heart still pumps petrol, proving that for now our thirst for dinosaurs is only slightly down, not out.
Industry Trends and Employment
- U.S. gas station industry employment totaled 1.7 million jobs in 2023
- EV charging stations at U.S. gas stations grew 40% to 25,000 ports in 2023
- 45% of U.S. gas stations plan to add EV chargers by 2025
- Average U.S. gas station wage rose 6.2% to $16.50/hour in 2023
- Contactless payments at gas stations increased to 52% of transactions in 2023
- U.S. c-store employment hit 1.9 million in 2023, up 2%
- 28% of gas stations adopted AI pricing tools in 2023
- Renewable diesel adoption at stations up 150% to 500 sites in 2023
- Mobile app loyalty programs used by 35% of U.S. stations in 2023
- Industry carbon reduction targets: 20% by 2030 via biofuels/EV
- Average station remodeling spend $500K, 15% annual increase 2023
- 62% of stations offer 24/7 operations in 2023
- Hydrogen fueling stations grew to 50 in U.S., 90 globally in 2023
- Labor turnover rate in c-stores 65% in 2023
- 40% growth in food delivery partnerships for stations 2023
- Autonomous store tech adopted by 5% of large chains in 2023
- Fuel margin recovery to 25 cents/gallon average in Q4 2023
- 75% of stations plan sustainability upgrades by 2025
- Cyberattack incidents on stations up 30% to 450 cases in 2023
- Female ownership of U.S. gas stations at 12% in 2023, up from 8%
- Drone delivery pilots at 20 rural stations in 2023
- 3D printing for parts reduced downtime 20% at chains 2023
- Micro-fulfillment centers co-located at 100 stations 2023
- Blockchain for fuel traceability piloted at 50 sites 2023
- VR training adopted by 10% of chains, cutting costs 15% 2023
- Subscription fuel discounts grew to 2 million users 2023
- Predictive maintenance AI saved $1B industry-wide in 2023
Industry Trends and Employment Interpretation
The American gas station, that timeless bastion of slushies and suspicious hot dogs, is frantically reinventing itself as a multi-fuel, touchless, AI-priced, drone-having, and somehow still severely understaffed hub of the future, all while trying to remember the square root of who actually pays for gas anymore.
Market Size and Revenue
- In 2023, the U.S. gasoline stations industry market size reached $678.4 billion in total revenue, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year
- Global gas station market was valued at $1.2 trillion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $1.5 trillion by 2030 at a CAGR of 2.8%
- U.S. convenience stores attached to gas stations generated $296 billion in in-store sales in 2022
- Average annual revenue per U.S. gas station was $5.9 million in 2023, up 5% from 2022 due to higher fuel margins
- The European gas station market size stood at €450 billion in 2022, driven by diesel demand
- U.S. fuel sales at gas stations contributed $450 billion to industry revenue in 2023, representing 72% of total revenue
- India's fuel retail market generated INR 8.5 trillion in FY2023, with public sector oil companies holding 92% share
- Canadian gas station industry revenue hit CAD 120 billion in 2022, with a 3.1% YoY growth
- In 2022, U.S. motor fuel sales at retail reached 135.6 billion gallons, generating $412 billion
- Australian downstream petroleum market revenue was AUD 85 billion in 2023
- Brazil's gas station sector revenue exceeded BRL 300 billion in 2022, fueled by ethanol blending
- UK forecourt market turnover was £72 billion in 2022, with fuel accounting for 65%
- China's gas station market size was CNY 2.1 trillion in 2023
- Mexico's fuel retail revenue reached MXN 1.2 trillion in 2023 post-reform
- South Korea's service station industry generated KRW 150 trillion in 2022
- France's gas station network revenue was €55 billion in 2022
- Germany's mineral oil industry retail sales hit €110 billion in 2023
- Japan's gas station market revenue stood at JPY 25 trillion in FY2022
- U.S. gas station mergers and acquisitions totaled $2.5 billion in deal value in 2023
- Middle East gas station market projected to reach $250 billion by 2028 at 4.5% CAGR
- Southeast Asia fuel retail market size was $180 billion in 2023
- U.S. inside sales per gas station averaged $1.8 million in 2022
- Africa gas station industry revenue grew to $120 billion in 2023
- Russia’s fuel retail sales reached RUB 4.5 trillion in 2022
- Italy's service station turnover was €40 billion in 2023
- Spain's gas station market revenue hit €30 billion in 2022
- Turkey fuel retail sector generated TRY 1.2 trillion in 2023
- U.S. gas stations contributed $55 billion in state and local taxes in 2022
- Global EV charging at gas stations added $5 billion to revenue in 2023
- U.S. c-store fuel profit margins averaged 18.2 cents per gallon in 2023
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
While the world dreams of an electric future, the global gas station industry, a multi-trillion-dollar titan fueled by our enduring need for convenience and combustion, is still very much cashing the check.
Station Counts and Locations
- There were 115,285 retail fueling locations in the U.S. as of January 2024
- U.S. gas stations decreased by 74 from 2022 to 2023, averaging 2 closures per week
- 80% of U.S. gas stations are branded, with Top Tier certifications on 62% of sites
- California has the most gas stations in the U.S. with 7,997 locations in 2023
- Texas follows with 7,412 gas stations, representing 6.4% of national total in 2023
- Globally, there are over 1.3 million gas stations, with China having 120,000+
- Europe has approximately 170,000 fuel stations as of 2023, down 20% since 2000
- India boasts over 85,000 petrol pumps in 2023, growing 5% annually
- 58% of U.S. gas stations offer convenience stores, totaling 67,000 c-stores
- Florida has 6,998 gas stations, third highest in U.S. in 2023
- New York state has 4,012 fueling stations in 2023
- 19,000 U.S. gas stations are single-store independents, 16.5% of total
- UK has 8,306 petrol stations in 2023, down from 37,000 in 1970
- Canada counts 12,139 gas stations in 2023, concentrated in Ontario (3,800)
- Australia has 6,400 service stations in 2023, with independents at 25%
- Brazil operates 42,000 gas stations, largest network in Latin America
- Germany has 14,200 fuel stations in 2023, down 1.5% YoY
- Japan’s gas stations number 29,000 in 2023, halved since 1990
- France counts 11,000 service stations in 2023
- Mexico has 12,500 gas stations post-2016 reform, up 20%
- South Africa operates 4,500 fuel sites in 2023
- Average U.S. gas station serves customers within 5-mile radius, with 92% urban access
- 1,200 new U.S. gas stations opened EV chargers in 2023
- Russia has 25,000 gas stations in 2023
- Italy operates 20,500 service stations in 2023
- Poland has 6,800 fuel stations, growing 2% in 2023
Station Counts and Locations Interpretation
Despite the occasional closure and global shift toward electrification, America's vast and heavily branded network of gas stations remains a stubbornly persistent fixture of the landscape, ensuring that while the fuel may change, the convenience-driven pit stop is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
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