Detailed SWOT Analysis of Valero – Manufacturer & Marketer Of Transportation Fuels

Updated on: Mar 2, 2022
SWOT Analysis of Valero - Featured Image

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Last time we had a look at the detailed SWOT analysis of Shell, an Anglo Dutch-based multinational oil and gas company. This time we will dive deep into the SWOT analysis of Valero and its work.

Valero is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of transportation fuels. The company owns 15 petroleum refineries in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, and 12 ethanol process plants in the U.S.

Valero’s efforts in marketing have helped them a lot. Marketing helps in achieving the desires and preferences of the target audience. Today every other company is using digital marketing, hence it has become a very important and essential skill to learn. You can check our Free MasterClass on Digital Marketing 101 by Karan Shah, the founder and CEO of IIDE.

Before we begin further with the SWOT analysis of Valero, let us discuss the company, what products it has to offer, its financials and its competitors.

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About Valero

SWOT Analysis of Valero - Valero Oil

Valero was founded in the year 1980 headquartered in San Antonio and named for the mission San Antonio de Valero. Valero Energy Corporation, the original name of the Alamo has continued to grow and evolve to become the largest independent petroleum refiner in the world and the world’s second-largest renewable fuels producer

Valero is managing its business to meet the world’s growing demand for reliable and sustainable energy. For sustainable development, it is investing in innovative low-carbon technologies, while at the same time prioritizing safety, environmental stewardship, and community engagement that are foundational to its success.

Quick Stats on Valero
Founder Valero Energy Corporation
Year Founded 1980
Origin United States
No. of Employees 10,000+
Company Type Public
Market Cap US$34.73 Billion (2022)
Annual Revenue US$117.033 Billion (2020)
Net Income/ Profit US$4.156 Billion (2020)

 

SWOT Analysis of Valero - Valero Gas Station


Products & Services by Valero

These are some of the products and services by Valero

  • Gasoline
  • Ethanol
  • Diesel fuel
  • Ultra-low-sulfur diesel
  • Jet fuel
  • Asphalt
  • Petrochemicals
  • Lubricants
  • Carbon Sequestration


Competitors of Valero

Here are some of the close competitors of Valero:

  • BP
  • Chevron Corporation
  • Ampol
  • Parkland Fuel
  • Delek US Holdings


Let’s begin with the SWOT analysis of Valero.


SWOT Analysis of Valero

SWOT can tell the areas that are holding you back, or about the loss if you don’t protect them. SWOT analysis is a tool that helps you analyze your company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

SWOT Analysis of Valero - SWOT Infographics of Valero

Let’s start by discussing the strengths of Valero from the SWOT analysis of Valero.

Strengths of Valero

The strengths of Valero are the points that helped Valero to achieve success. Let’s have a look at the strengths:

  • Diversified Brands: Under its primary umbrella, the firm has diversified into many different areas of the energy industry and has numerous strong brands including Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Beacon, and Texaco brands.
  • Brand Name & Reputation: Valero is a big company with 42+ years of experience and expertise. It has a stronghold over the market with the distribution of advanced energy and oil products in countries around Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Africa and has maintained a high reputation over the years.
  • Vertical Integration: Valero has successfully integrated its business operations vertically by engaging in an exploration of petroleum, oil barrels and refineries. The upstream market involves exploration and production. In the downstream market, it is in the marketing of its brands and gasoline. They enjoy quality control and cost benefits as competitive advantages by vertical integration.
  • Research & Development: Valero is continuously trying to improve its technology to decrease its carbon footprint and greenhouse emission while trying to extract more fuel with fewer efforts. Valero has many patents registered in their name and Valero has sustained investment in R&D. R&D helps in reducing expenditure and also gives competitive advantages.
  • Exploring New Markets: Valero has a record of exploring and conquering new markets while having the advantage of consumer satisfaction. The worldwide expansion of the company has helped build a new revenue stream. Therefore, Valero can be considered an experienced player when it comes to entering new markets.
  • Range of Consumer Products: Valero provides a range of consumer and business products for the easement including the latest unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel products, motor oil, more than 7,000 fuel stations, convenient payment methods and the Valero Rewards program.


Weaknesses of
Valero

Weaknesses are the areas where the company is lacking behind and needs improvement. Let’s have a look at the weaknesses of Valero:

  • Environmental & Social Impacts: The organization has been accused of polluting and harming the environment by not doing enough to become green and save the ecosystem. It has faced several air pollution lawsuits for commencing 38 emissions events since 2014.
  • Strong Government Regulations and Policies: There are strong government rules and regulations that make operational efficiency low and create a hindrance in the working of a company.
  • Low Presence: Valero is depended most probably on the US market which exposes it to face the risk of economic slowdown and government regulations.


Opportunities for Valero

Opportunities refer to the chances of the progress of the company in future. Let’s have a look at the opportunities for Valero:

  • Economic Development: Economic development and rising consumer spending, after years of economic decline and slow growth rate in the industry, is Valero’s opportunity to capture new customers and expand its market share.
  • Increasing Greener Demand: The accelerated demand for cleaner and greener energy drives also opens up the possibility of purchasing Valero products by the government and federal government contractors.
  • Global Expansion: Valero is known for entering new markets and conquering them and hence, expansion to new locations and countries is always an opportunity for the firm. Recently, the company has started its production at Guyana’s Second Offshore.
  • Need for Sustainable Development: The world has started to prefer brands that support environmental health. Valero’s current mission and vision clearly state that it is working its way towards greener energies and emerging sustainable technologies which, if pursued correctly can give the firm a huge advantage.


Threats to Valero

Threats are the issues that can cause problems to the company in future. Let’s have a look at some of the threats to Valero:

  • Eco-friendly Fuel: If the dependability on renewable energy and non-conventional sources of energy increases then the company may face a large drawback as their products are not environment friendly.
  • Climate Changes: As energy demand is increasing, carbon dioxide emission in production as well as upstream is expected to increase which needs to be under control for Valero. Valero has to find ways to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide or else Valero has faced increasing costs and strict regulation. 
  • Political Volatility: Oil and gas have been a very important subject of discussion between many countries for the last century. Energy demands and production are always surrounded by politics. Valero has the disadvantage of becoming a victim of political development in the future.
  • Intense Competition: Increased competitors’ technologies and profit stability have increased the competition in the industry over the last two years which has put downward pressure on not only profit but also sales.


This ends our detailed SWOT analysis of Valero. Let us conclude our learning below.

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To Conclude

Thus, we conclude from the above analysis that as a brand that already boasts of a diversified product portfolio and global omnipresence, Valero’s strengths outweigh its negative factors if it were to take advantage of the opportunities in the market and take timely action to mitigate its risks. 

However, to comment on the current global scenario, Valero must take advantage of the biggest opportunity out there which relies on the digital movement that is quickly causing all operations to switch to virtual platforms. In this light, it becomes all the more essential for Valero to direct a significant proportion of its funds to digital marketing which will cause its brand value to increase and its sales volume and value to multiply. 

Indeed, digital marketing is a constantly growing field which causes it to be one of the prime careers of the future. If you don’t have any idea of what digital marketing is or want to learn more about it and upgrade yourself, here is IIDE’s 3 Month Advanced Online Digital Marketing Course to know more.

We hope this blog on the SWOT analysis of Valero has given you a good insight into the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

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Aditya Shastri

Lead Trainer & Head of Learning & Development at IIDE

Leads the Learning & Development segment at IIDE. He is a Content Marketing Expert and has trained 6000+ students and working professionals on various topics of Digital Marketing. He has been a guest speaker at prominent colleges in India including IIMs......[Read full bio]

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