Listed fuel distributor and retailer Top Line Business Development Corp. (TOP) is establishing a wholly owned subsidiary in Singapore as part of its long-term vertical integration strategy aimed at strengthening fuel importation and improving supply chain efficiency.
The company’s board has approved the creation of a Singapore-based trading house that will serve as its international trading arm. The new entity will allow TOP to directly engage global fuel suppliers and optimize procurement arrangements as it scales up importation activities.
“This initiative is a strategic step toward our long-term vertical integration strategy by optimizing our end-to-end supply chain. By establishing a trading presence in Singapore, we enhance our fuel supply reliability and efficiently structure our costs. Over time, this is expected to contribute to better margins and more efficient fuel sourcing across our network,” said Atty. Constance Marie C. Lim, First Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
The move follows the recent grant of a Certificate of Registration by the Bureau of Customs to Topline Logistics and Development Corp. (TLDC), TOP’s logistics subsidiary, authorizing it to undertake fuel importation activities.
Singapore is widely recognized as Asia’s largest oil trading hub, serving as a key gateway between Middle Eastern producers and Southeast Asian markets. By establishing a presence in the city-state, TOP positions itself closer to major market participants, trading platforms, and global pricing benchmarks.
Based in Cebu, TOP is active in commercial fuel trading, depot operations, and retail fuel distribution across the Visayas. It operates two subsidiaries: TLDC, which handles the importation, trading, distribution, and marketing of petroleum-based products, and Light Fuels Corporation, which focuses on retail fuel operations.