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Mexico’s gas station market is going through one of the most complex periods in its recent history. Nearly a decade after the formal opening of the energy sector, the 2026 snapshot shows a scenario few anticipated: more than 14,000 active service stations, 392 brands competing with Pemex, and, at the same time, a quiet re-concentration that is handing ground back to the state oil company.
This article analyzes the current state of the market, the brands with the greatest presence, the latest data from PetroIntelligence and the Comisión Nacional de Energía (CNE), and the trends that every operator, investor, and industry supplier should know in 2026.
How many gas stations are there in Mexico in 2026?
As of the end of April 2026, the CNE has 14,405 active permits on record for the retail sale of gasoline and diesel nationwide, according to PetroIntelligence data — the highest figure since the market opened.
However, the actual number of stations operating day to day is 5% to 10% lower: some permits correspond to stations still under construction, temporarily paused, or in the process of a brand change. The sector’s sustained growth — estimated at 3.5% for 2026 — confirms the market keeps expanding, though in a more orderly way than during the post-reform boom years.
Geographic distribution remains uneven. The states with the highest concentration of stations are Estado de México, Jalisco, and Veracruz. By contrast, large rural areas and highway corridors in the south and southeast of the country face coverage gaps, with distances between stations that can exceed 100 kilometers.
How many gas station brands exist in Mexico?
The 2013 energy reform — visible on the streets starting in mid-2016 — radically transformed the landscape. Before that date, virtually every station operated under the Pemex banner. Today, the country counts 392 brands other than Pemex, with 5,482 stations selling fuel under a different flag, according to PetroIntelligence (April 2026).
In 2023, the then Comisión Reguladora de Energía (CRE) — now replaced by the CNE — recorded 325 brands. In under three years, that number grew nearly 21%, reflecting the market’s dynamism and how easily operators can create or acquire their own brand.
Even so, brand diversity doesn’t translate into an even market split. Three brands — Pemex, Mobil, and G500 — account for roughly 70% of stations with an active permit. The rest is split among dozens of regional groups, mid-sized chains, and more than 4,800 independent operators with a single station.
The gas station brands with the largest presence in Mexico
Below is the updated ranking of the brands with the most stations in operation, based on PetroIntelligence data through the close of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.
1. Pemex — Historic and institutional leadership
The state oil company is, by a wide margin, the brand with the largest presence in the country. As of the end of October 2025, 8,817 stations operated under the Pemex banner — roughly two-thirds of the national market. Its edge lies in logistics integration, refining infrastructure, a pipeline network, and a territorial footprint no private brand can match in the short term.
2. Mobil (ExxonMobil) — The leading private brand
With approximately 701 stations nationwide, Mobil has established itself as the private brand with the most units in Mexico. It stands out for its Top Tier®-certified additive fuels, modern station design, upgraded lighting, and consumer loyalty programs.
3. G500 — Third place nationally, Top Tier®-certified
With close to 488 stations, G500 holds third place in the market. Its G Super®, G Premium®, and G Diesel® fuels include G Boost, a detergency additive certified under the Top Tier® program, endorsed by the world’s leading automakers.
4. Oxxo Gas — Convenience and urban coverage
Grupo FEMSA’s fuel division has 569 active permits. Its competitive edge is clear: stations integrated with Oxxo convenience stores across more than 17 states, with a strong presence in Nuevo León, Coahuila, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, Querétaro, Jalisco, Chihuahua, and Estado de México.
5. Petro Seven — Sustained regional growth
With 296 stations concentrated mainly in central and northern Mexico, Petro Seven is part of Grupo Iconn and positions itself as a chain aimed at drivers who value fast, efficient service.
6. Corpogas — Established regional presence
258 active stations with coverage across several states — one of the fastest-growing regional brands in recent years.
7. Hidrosina — A private-sector pioneer focused on quality
Hidrosina opened Mexico’s first non-Pemex service station in June 2016, at Paseo de la Reforma and Insurgentes in Mexico City. Today it operates 201 stations with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and certified quality. In the 2025 price-cap agreement, it was the only brand with 100% compliance across all of its stations.
8. BP — The first international brand to enter Mexico
BP was the first international company to open gas stations in Mexico, in 2017, building a network that reached close to 500 stations across 29 states and serving roughly 700,000 customers a day. Its focus is on service quality and the consumer experience.
9. Gulf — Fuel with UN-certified nanotechnology
Gulf México offers a transition fuel featuring GPLUS liquid nanotechnology, the only fuel in Mexico with an eco-label certified by CIFAL-UNITAR (United Nations entities), meeting 5 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals under the Paris Agreement.
10. TotalEnergies — A French track record since 1982
Present in Mexico for more than four decades, TotalEnergies operates in exploration and production, chemical distribution, and fuels. It stands out especially for its positioning in lubricants and industrial solutions for the sector.
TotalEnergies station locator →
11. Repsol — A certified measurement system
Repsol has rolled out a dedicated volumetric-control system called “Estación Segura Repsol,” which includes next-generation dispensers with regular maintenance and daily measurement-reliability checks.
12. Shell — International technological innovation
With its distinctive branding, Shell operates in Mexico with stations built around fuel quality and additional services for drivers.
13. Chevron — Focused on the northwest and the Bajío
Chevron began operations in Mexico in August 2017 with its first station in Hermosillo, Sonora. It now operates more than 200 stations across Baja California Norte and Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Jalisco, and Querétaro.
14. Redco — An environmental leader in the northwest
Headquartered in northwest Mexico, Redco operates automated, high-tech stations and is recognized as the country’s leading gas station brand in environmental management.
15. Rendichicas — Advancing women in the industry
A 100% Mexican company with more than 9 years in operation and 71 stations across 4 states, Rendichicas is a pioneer in advancing women’s roles in Mexico’s gas station sector.
16. La Gas — The southeast’s first franchise
A 100% Mexican company and the first service-station franchise established in the country’s southeast, present in one of the fastest-growing regions of the national market.
17. Gasmart — Extra services without leaving your car
With 108 service stations in Baja California, Guanajuato, Coahuila, Sonora, Nayarit, Querétaro, and Estado de México, Gasmart differentiates itself with added services such as bill payments and select purchases available right from the driver’s seat.
2026 trend: the return to Pemex
One of the most significant developments in today’s market is the re-concentration toward the Pemex brand. After years in which private flags steadily gained ground, recent changes to the regulatory framework have partly reversed that trend.
In October 2025, the CNE eliminated the so-called “asymmetric regulation” — a framework that placed additional obligations on Pemex to level the playing field against newer competitors. Removing that asymmetry, combined with a federal policy aimed at rescuing and repositioning the state oil company, has reignited the migration of private stations back to the Pemex banner.
The numbers confirm it: in January 2025, Pemex operated 8,709 stations. By the end of October of the same year, it was already up to 8,817 — a net gain of more than 100 units in under twelve months. The trend continues into 2026.
For operators, this is a significant strategic decision: staying under a private brand or returning to the Pemex umbrella means weighing supply margins, traceability requirements, brand perception with consumers, and the conditions of the new regulation.
The profile of Mexico’s gas station operator
Beyond the large national and international chains, Mexico’s gas station market remains, for the most part, a small-business industry. PetroIntelligence data through the end of April 2026 reveals a structure that stands out for how fragmented it is:
- There are 6,186 business groups linked to fuel retail in the country.
- Of that total, 4,882 groups own just a single service station.
- At the other extreme, only 30 business groups control 3,651 permits.
This duality — large chains coexisting with thousands of independent operators — defines the nature of the sector and has direct implications for suppliers, franchisors, and investors: the market isn’t dominated by a small handful of institutional buyers, but by a broad, diverse base of operators with very different needs, capabilities, and structures.
Reference fuel prices in Mexico — 2026
National average reference prices for the first half of 2026, according to PetroIntelligence, are as follows:
- Regular gasoline: $1.39 USD (~$23.69 MXN) per liter
- Premium gasoline: $1.67 USD (~$28.49 MXN) per liter
- Diesel: $1.60 USD (~$27.14 MXN) per liter
USD figures use an approximate reference exchange rate of ~17 MXN per USD; the exchange rate fluctuates, so treat these as indicative.
Prices vary by region due to logistics costs, the fuel’s origin (domestic production vs. imports), and each station’s operating margin. To check real-time prices by station, visit the PROFECO portal or the CNE’s open-data platform.
Conclusion: a bigger, more diverse, more competitive market
Mexico’s gas station sector in 2026 is noticeably more complex than it was a decade ago. With more than 14,000 active permits, nearly 400 competing brands, and an ongoing re-concentration toward Pemex, the landscape demands greater professionalization from operators and the suppliers who serve them.
For anyone involved in the sector — whether as a station owner, an equipment or technology supplier, an investor, or an expanding brand — having up-to-date information and strategic connections has never been more valuable.
Sources: PetroIntelligence (April 2026), Comisión Nacional de Energía (CNE), Surtidores Latam, Expansión MX, PROFECO.
Originally published: July 2024. Last updated: June 2026.
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