The Slovenian fuel retail market has gained a new international player after UAE-based Sunqar Resources acquired the Maxen chain of fully automated service stations from Mercator, a member of the Fortenova Group. The transaction was completed on January 5 through the transfer of ownership of M Energija, the company managing the Maxen network.
Mercator said the divestment fits its broader strategy of concentrating on core retail operations, noting that the energy subsidiary represented only a marginal share of group revenues.
As a result of the deal, Sunqar Resources now controls 21 self-service filling stations across Slovenia, strengthening its footprint in the regional downstream fuel market.
Sunqar Resources is active in the wholesale trade of petroleum products, including liquefied petroleum gas, and supplies fuel networks across Eastern Europe, the Baltics and Central Asia. While Maxen holds around 4% of Slovenia’s fuel retail market, it has struggled financially in recent years, posting a net loss in 2024 despite a modest increase in revenues, in a market dominated by Petrol, MOL and Shell.
