The Issuance Institute of Overseas Departments recently published a study devoted to service stations in Reunion and their economic model. The 159 resorts on the island employ 10 employees on average, compared to a little less than 6 for the national average. They record a higher commercial margin rate than those in mainland France but generate a lower operating surplus, due to their personnel costs. Boutique activity, more or less important depending on the station, conditions their profitability : the higher the sales of non-fuel products, the more operating expenses are diluted. Gas stations on the island are, in majority, ownership of the four oil companies (Ola, Vito, Total and Engen). Only a quarter of them belong to their managers. In this case, the median Gross Operating Surplus rate is 2,1%, compared to 1% among those belonging to oil companies. The Iédom study also addresses the problem of the future of a profession which will be confronted with the growing electrification of the automobile fleet.. But the movement is only emerging in Reunion, where less than 1% of the fleet is made up of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Reunion service stations : a model is scrutinized
