The Ipiranga gas station network, part of the Ultra Group, has seen an increase in sales volumes in the fourth quarter, supported by the effects of the Carbono Occult business launched at the end of August, but the recovery in profit margins is nevertheless still slow, the company’s president said this Thursday.
“We have a very positive scenario…volumes are reacting rapidly, especially in Rio and São Paulo,” Leonardo Linden said at Ultra’s press conference on the company’s third-quarter results published the night before.
“Volume margins are recovering more slowly, primarily in highways and B2B,” the executive said. He says this behavior is “natural” because these markets are more resistant to price fluctuations in the face of long-term contracts.
Carbono Okurto involved a range of government agencies to shut down a network of irregular gas stations across the country and also introduced a financing scheme for this irregular trade.
At least 49 gas stations were closed last week in the states of Piauí, Maranhão and Tocantins as part of Carbono Occulto, according to Agencia Brasil newspaper.