PTTOR hopes for fuel sales recovery this month

PTT Oil and Retail Business (PTTOR), the retail fuel arm of PTT, expects fuel sales to return to normal in July after a 5-7% decline for four months in a row.

Monthly sales volume will be on a par with last July’s, though full-year sales for 2020 are likely to fall 3-5%, PTTOR said.

Jiraporn Kaosawad, president and chief executive, said the company began to see good signs in June, and retail sales should be back to 460,000 litres per station as a result of the government further easing lockdown measures.

The company’s capital spending for oil and non-oil segments remains unchanged, Ms Jiraporn said.

PTT president and chief executive Auttapol Rerkpiboon has said capital expenditure for the retail fuel business would remain at 93.1 billion baht from this year to 2024 because 90% of new petrol stations would be handled by private investors who will manage their own spending.

This year the group plans to launch new non-oil businesses through franchises domestically and abroad, following the success of Cafe Amazon, the company’s coffee shop brand, Ms Jiraporn said.

“The company is also developing more franchise models scheduled to be introduced this year,” she said.

PTT yesterday officially launched Cafe Amazon for Chance, known as For Chance, which employs disabled and ageing baristas.

The project, which was introduced in 2018, aims to help those who struggle to find work make a better living.

The company teamed up with the Foundation of Asia-Pacific Development Centre’s 60+ Bakery and Chocolate Cafe project to carry out the effort.

The first For Chance is located at Mahidol University’s Salaya Campus. The ninth branch opened yesterday at the headquarters of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Mr Auttapol said For Chance coffeehouses will expand to 12 locations in greater Bangkok and branch out to other regions next year.

He views Cafe Amazon as a brand ambassador in the coffee market. The company has so far expanded Cafe Amazon to 3,100 branches across Asia.

By the end of this year, a further 400 shops will open, he said.

Mr Auttapol said he expects the SEC to approve PTTOR’s plan to enter the stock market in July.

PTTOR plans to raise funds by offering up to 2.7 billion baht worth of ordinary shares.

YUTHANA PRAIWAN A barista demonstrates the sign language to place an order for a latte at Cafe Amazon for Chance’s ninth branch, which officially opened yesterday at the SEC.