PTT presently has 170 PTT petrol stations in Asean countries. Twenty-nine in Laos, 28 in Cambodia, 105 in the Philippines and in Myanmar PTT-supplies gasoline to eight stations.
The company has been promoting Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Asean countries through shops at its petrol stations.
So far, the firm has 12 Thai SME brands taking part in its attempt to penetrate markets, including Pueng Ngee Chiang Food Product Co Ltd, Black Canyon (Thailand) Co Ltd, Pure Grilled Pork, Tummour, Yunnan Pork Stew, Yentafo Kruengsonge by A. Mallika, Sky Luck, Hotpot, and Wizard Auto Care.
PTT executive vice president Attapol Rerkphiboon said the firm’s expansion of oil retail and related businesses was in line with the government’s policy to support Thai SMEs’ in other countries by marketing alongside the PTT brand.
PTT’s Apsara petro station branch in Cambodia’s Siem Reap is a 3,900-square-metre full-service petrol station, which is part of the firm’s “PTT Life Station” vision to cater to Cambodian residents as well as foreigners and Thais visiting the city. In Cambodia, PTT petrol stations feature products and services from nine Thai brands including Pueng Ngee Chiang, Pure Grilled Pork, Five Star Chicken, and Black Canyon as well as PTT’s own Cafe Amazon.
Attapol said PTT had a policy to expand in other countries, especially neighbouring Asean members that have potential and economic growth. PTT plans to increase the number of existing petrol stations in Cambodia from 28 to 90 by 2020.
In Siem Reap, there are four PTT petrol stations, two run by the firm and two by dealers.
This year, PTT invested Bt1.5 billion in the Asean region (including Bt600 in Cambodia). It was estimate that the firm would earn Bt50.5 billion from its oil business in the Asean region by 2020, with Cambodia yielding Bt10 billion a year. He said Myanmar and Vietnam were interested in PTT but the government did not yet allow foreigners to open petrol stations.
“The top three sale volumes of Cafe Amazon are in Phnom Penh at 1,500 cups, 1,300 cups and 900 cups a day respectively. It’s very popular,” Attapol said.
He said PTT initially planned to expand the number of Cafe Amazon to 200 branches in the Asean region by 2020 but given the good results, the target might be revised up. He said the Philippines was using its own local branded coffee shops and PTT hoped it would start using Cafe Amazon in the near future.
Attapol said the PTT strategy would benefit Thai brands because it aimed at introducing and promoting Thai products in the Asean.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of PTTCL (Cambodia) Limited Suthon Choothian said the petrol sale volume in Siem Reap was at 100,000 litres per month and it was expected to grow. He added that PTT petro sale volume ranked fifth in Cambodia and would rise to the fourth next year.
“Many Cambodians in Phnom Penh are interested in buying Cafe Amazon franchises. Of 100 applicants this year, just 35 have passed our criteria and been awarded the franchise,” Suthon said adding that a cup of coffee at Cafe Amazon in Cambodia cost about US$2 (Bt70), which was not expensive compared to other brands’ of coffee at PTT stations.
A staff member of Pure Grilled Pork at a PTT petro station in Siem Reap said they sold about 300 grill pork on sticks a day. Each stick has a price tag of 1,500 Riels (about Bt15) and each small pack of sticky rice costs 500 Riels (Bt5).
The staff member said it was popular because customers said it tasted better than what were sold at fresh markets where few people would sell grilled pork.