Gasoline Market in Quebec: Fewer Sellers, More Buyers

Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text:

* Decline in Fuel Sales Points: The number of gasoline stores in Quebec decreased from 2,779 in 2022 to 2,671 in 2024 – a drop of 3.9%. The closures are primarily affecting “gas bar” type stations, those with restaurants, and those linked to mechanical workshops.
* Increase in Fuel Sales Volume: Despite fewer stations, total gasoline and diesel sales increased from 8,316 million liters to 8,437 million liters (a 1.4% or 120 million liter increase).
* shift to Efficiency: The Régie (energy regulator) believes the market is becoming more efficient, with fewer stations selling larger volumes of fuel.
* Effective Model: Stations linked to convenience stores, selling 2.4-5.1 million liters annually (depending on region), are considered effective. 77.9% of Quebec stations fit this model, averaging 3.16 million liters sold per year.
* Regional Differences: High-volume stations are in populated areas. Lower-volume stations are in remote regions like the North Shore and Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine (below 2 million liters annual sales).
* Price Regulation: The Régie no longer sets a minimum gasoline price but continues to monitor retailer margins at efficient stations.