CEBU CITY — Cebu-based fuel distributor Top Line Business Development Corp. expects to post record earnings and revenues in 2025 after its expansion plan leapfrogged from the initial target of 30 service stations by 2026 to 51 outlets by the end of this year.

“We’re looking, we’re hoping, it can be a banner year because of the 50 stations. From three stations last year, it’s now 50 stations this year,” said Top Line Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eugene Erik C. Lapasaran Lim.

He noted that, “it’s really a banner year, even in terms of revenue growth or top line growth or income... because of the acquisition.”

Lim expressed optimism that Top Line will post a high double-digit growth rate in revenues as a result of its retail presence’s expansion, adding that the revenue growth from these stations will be seen in the second-half financial performance.

Top Line Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Bridgette Carmel C. Lapasaran Lim said the recent acquisitions accelerated the company’s time frame by six to nine months for bringing one station into operation, as this includes securing permits and construction.

“If you start from scratch, there [are] six to nine months for permitting alone, and then a construction period, and then you also have to do the dry run and operations. So right now, we’ve cut it down by more than 70 percent because it’s just renovating, rebranding, and then reopening,” she said.

The expansion is expected to grow the fuel retail business’ market in the Visayas from its current eight-percent market share.

Even without the newly acquired service stations, Lim said Top Line already grew its sales volume, reporting to shareholders last week that the first half of the year had the company growing its volume sales by 38.3 percent to 44.43 million liters from 32.12 million liters in the same period of 2024.

This led first-half revenues to grow by 35 percent as well to about “a billion pesos” from ₱700 million in the same period last year. Aside from retail, Top Line also sells fuels in bulk, such as to shipping companies.

Light Fuels currently has four operating stations, with eight more under various stages of development across Metro Cebu and Cebu province.

It recently acquired one service station from Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. and 38 stations from Total Oil & Gas Resources, Inc. (TOGRI) and Ballston Metro Corp. (BMC).

Once all stations are operational, these will expand Light Fuels’ network to 51 stations by year-end, broadening its presence in the high-growth provinces of Cebu, Leyte, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental.

The company has spent ₱8.5 million to buy the Phoenix station and ₱180 million for the TOGRI and BMC acquisitions, which were funded by a combination of bank financing and internally generated funds.

The acquisition also includes a two-million-liter depot located in San Jose, Negros Oriental, and an additional 15 tanker trucks that enhances the company’s logistics capacity.

“We seize opportunities for expansion with prudence and purpose. This acquisition is a strategic move that demonstrates our disciplined and effective use of capital.

“Each station we acquire has been carefully evaluated for its operational potential and its ability to strengthen our network, ensuring it contributes to our bottom line while delivering sustainable value for our shareholders,” the Top Line chairman said.