Deregulation has brought in, as of FY 2005, about 367 new players in the downstream oil industry, engaged in one or more activities, with actual investments totalling P 28.35 billion. Market share of new players from year 2002 were sustained at 15.3%.

Today’s market reflects more competitiveness. Presence of New Players is felt more in the LPG business earning a high market share of about 44.5% of the total LPG demand. New players in the LPG trade are all over the country, with players getting higher market shares in areas where they have import terminals. The entry of many independent refillers and marketers has resulted in malpractices in the industry and the proliferation of poor quality cylinders (not conforming to the standards for manufacture, requalification/maintenance or repair required by the BPS). Congress is now crafting a bill to also consider LPG cylinders and other ancillary equipment such as hoses and valves as critical to safety, thus as significant as the LPG product itself.