Caltex
A Chevron petroleum brand used across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Southern Africa, with some markets operated by licensed independent companies.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Caltex is a petroleum and mobility brand whose origins lie in a 1936 international joint venture between Standard Oil of California, the predecessor of Chevron, and The Texas Company, later known as Texaco. The name was created from the words California and Texas and became associated with fuel marketing, refining interests, lubricants, commercial fuels and service-station operations outside the United States. Although the original Caltex corporate joint venture ceased to exist as an independent enterprise after Chevron acquired Texaco in 2001, Chevron retained Caltex as a major regional brand. The brand’s historical footprint was broad. During the twentieth century, Caltex established or acquired interests in refining and petroleum distribution businesses in many countries, particularly in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It entered or expanded in markets including Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lebanon, South Africa and Botswana. Its operations commonly combined fuel importation and wholesale supply with branded filling stations, lubricants, commercial products and convenience retail. The company also held refinery interests, including a significant stake in Singapore Refining Company. Caltex became a Chevron-controlled brand when Chevron and Texaco combined in 2001. The former joint venture was reorganized within the new company, first as ChevronTexaco Global Energy and later as Chevron Global Energy after ChevronTexaco reverted to the Chevron name in 2005. Caltex is therefore not a separately listed company in its principal modern form. In most markets it functions as a regional consumer and commercial brand within Chevron’s downstream and lubricants activities, while in certain countries Chevron has licensed the trademarks to local operators. The brand’s identity has included several recognizable product families. Techron is Chevron’s fuel-additive technology and has been introduced into Caltex fuels in multiple Asia-Pacific and African markets. Havoline is a passenger-car and automotive lubricant line, while Delo serves heavy-duty diesel, commercial-vehicle and industrial applications. Vortex has been used for premium or differentiated fuel offerings in selected markets. Caltex service stations have also incorporated convenience retail, historically including Star Mart stores in several countries. Ownership and branding have varied by market. In Australia, the publicly traded Caltex Australia business was separated from Chevron in 2015 and subsequently changed its corporate and consumer identity to Ampol after Chevron terminated the Australian trademark licence. Chevron later returned to Australian downstream retail through the acquisition of Puma Energy’s Australian operations and began relaunching Caltex at selected stations. In South Africa and Botswana, Chevron’s former business was sold to Glencore and partners in 2018; the resulting Astron Energy initially continued using Caltex under licence before rebranding its stations. In New Zealand, Z Energy acquired Chevron New Zealand’s business in 2016, while independently operated Caltex-branded stations continued under a licensing and wholesale-supply arrangement. Today, Caltex remains a geographically focused petroleum brand rather than a standalone global oil company. Its activities depend on Chevron’s supply, product technology and trademark strategy, as well as on local licensees and distributors. The brand is primarily positioned around mainstream fuel retail, fuel quality, vehicle protection, lubricants and practical service-station convenience. The precise ownership of stations, terminals, refineries and retail networks differs substantially from country to country.
History
Caltex was created on 30 June 1936 as the California Texas Oil Company, a petroleum joint venture associated with Standard Oil of California and The Texas Company. The arrangement expanded the parents’ access to international petroleum marketing and production interests. The business acquired or developed operations beyond the United States, eventually becoming especially important in Asia, Africa and other Eastern Hemisphere markets. During the 1940s, Caltex acquired surplus wartime tankers and expanded its international portfolio, including interests connected with Texaco’s overseas subsidiaries. It entered a partnership with Japan’s Nippon Oil Company in 1948 and developed or participated in refineries in numerous countries between 1949 and 1966. In 1967, European interests were transferred to the parent companies, allowing Caltex to concentrate more heavily on Africa and Asia. The shortened Caltex name was formally adopted in 1968, when California Texas Oil Company Limited became Caltex Petroleum Corporation. That year, the company also entered South Korea through a joint venture that became LG Caltex and later GS Caltex. The company strengthened its positions in Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia during the early 1980s. Its headquarters moved from Dallas to Singapore in 1998, reflecting the growing importance of Asia-Pacific operations. A representative office in Beijing opened in 1985, and during the 1990s Caltex expanded or developed activities in India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Lebanon. In 1996 it introduced a revised corporate and retail identity, including a logo designed by Landor Associates. The corporate name changed from Caltex Petroleum Corporation to Caltex Corporation in 1999. Caltex also developed a portfolio of branded fuel and lubricant products. Havoline Energy, Vortex fuels and Delo engine oils were introduced internationally around the end of the 1990s. Techron fuel-additive technology began being introduced in selected Asia-Pacific and African markets in 2006. These products helped connect the Caltex retail identity with Chevron’s broader fuel-technology and lubricant platforms. The 2001 merger of Chevron and Texaco changed Caltex’s corporate status. The former joint venture became a wholly owned subsidiary of the combined company, initially known as ChevronTexaco Global Energy and later Chevron Global Energy. Although Caltex ceased to be an independent parent company, Chevron retained the name for regional downstream, retail and lubricant activities. As a result, the brand’s operation became a mixture of Chevron-controlled businesses and trademark licensees. Australia illustrates the complexity of this model. The Australian business used the Caltex name from 1941 and acquired Golden Fleece in 1981. Caltex Australia later became a public company and in 1995 combined its operating business with Ampol-related interests. It obtained full ownership of the Australian petroleum operation in 1997, while Chevron and Australian investors held the broader company’s shares. Chevron sold its 50 percent stake in 2015. After Chevron ended the trademark licence, Caltex Australia changed its corporate name to Ampol in 2020 and completed its rebranding by the end of 2022. Chevron separately re-entered Australian downstream operations through the acquisition of Puma Energy’s Australian business and relaunched Caltex at selected locations. In southern Africa, Chevron’s business was sold in 2018 to Glencore and Off The Shelf Investments. The purchaser formed Astron Energy, which initially operated Caltex stations under licence before beginning a broad transition to the Astron name in 2022. In New Zealand, the former Chevron business was acquired by Z Energy in 2016, but a licensed Caltex network remained in operation with local operators and Z as a wholesale supplier. Similar licensing arrangements have allowed the brand to remain present in markets where the local operating company is no longer owned by Chevron. Caltex therefore represents a long-lived international trademark rather than a single uniform corporate network. Its current presence depends on country-specific ownership, licensing, wholesale arrangements and Chevron’s regional strategy. The brand’s enduring category association is with fuel retail, lubricants, commercial petroleum products and service-station convenience.
- 2020
Caltex Australia adopts the Ampol name
[1]The Australian company changes its corporate identity as Chevron’s Caltex trademark licence approaches termination.
- 2018
Chevron’s southern African business is sold
[1]Glencore and Off The Shelf Investments acquire the business that becomes Astron Energy.
- 2015
Chevron divests its Caltex Australia stake
[1]Chevron sells its 50 percent interest in Caltex Australia while retaining trademark and related contractual rights.
- 2006
Techron rollout expands
[1]Chevron begins introducing Techron fuel-additive technology into Caltex fuels in selected Asia-Pacific and African markets.
- 2001
Chevron acquires Texaco
[1]The merger makes Caltex a wholly controlled Chevron brand and ends the original independent joint-venture structure.
- 1998
Headquarters moves to Singapore
[1]Caltex relocates its corporate headquarters from Dallas to Singapore.
- 1996
New corporate and retail identity introduced
[1]Caltex launches a revised visual identity and logo developed with Landor Associates.
- 1979
Caltex acquires an interest in Singapore Refining Company
[1]Caltex takes a one-third interest in Singapore Refining Company, later increasing its holding to 50 percent.
- 1968
The Caltex name becomes the corporate identity
[1]California Texas Oil Company Limited changes its name to Caltex Petroleum Corporation.
- 1948
Partnership with Nippon Oil
[1]Caltex enters a partnership with Japan’s Nippon Oil Company as part of its postwar international expansion.
Products and positioning
Mainstream and premium-quality fuel, lubricants and mobility services, emphasizing fuel technology, engine protection and convenient retail access.
Petrol, gasoline and diesel
Caltex fuels
The core Caltex offering consists of petrol, gasoline, diesel and other transport fuels sold through branded stations and wholesale channels. Product grades and naming vary by country. Chevron’s Techron additive technology has been incorporated into Caltex fuels in selected markets, giving the retail proposition an emphasis on engine cleanliness and fuel-system performance.
Fuel additive technology · 2006
Techron
Techron is Chevron’s fuel-additive technology used in selected Caltex fuel products. It is positioned as a formulation intended to help clean fuel-system components and support engine performance. The technology was introduced across a number of Asia-Pacific and African Caltex markets from 2006 onward.
Automotive lubricants
Havoline
Havoline is Caltex’s passenger-car and automotive lubricant family. It includes engine oils and related vehicle fluids marketed for consumer vehicles, with product specifications and availability differing by market. The line forms part of Chevron’s wider lubricants portfolio.
Heavy-duty lubricants
Delo
Delo is a lubricant family focused on heavy-duty diesel engines, commercial vehicles, fleets, industrial equipment and related applications. It is sold through Caltex and other Chevron-associated channels in markets where the brand portfolio is available.
Fuel · 1999
Vortex
Vortex is a differentiated Caltex fuel range introduced internationally around the end of the 1990s. It has been used as a premium or technology-led fuel proposition in selected markets rather than as a universally standardized product across the entire Caltex network.
Convenience retail · 1997
Star Mart
Star Mart is the convenience-store format associated with Caltex service stations in several countries. Stores provide convenience goods and travel-oriented retail services. The format was also used for standalone stores in Cambodia and New Zealand, although the New Zealand standalone locations were later sold and rebranded.
Brand decisions
2022
Rebrand former southern African Caltex stationsStrategyBackground
Astron Energy, created after the sale of Chevron’s southern African business, had initially continued to use Caltex under licence.
Action taken
Astron Energy began replacing Caltex signage at stations in South Africa and Botswana with the Astron identity.
Aftermath
The Caltex presence in those countries declined as the former Chevron network transitioned to Astron Energy.
2020
Return to Australian downstream retailM&ABackground
Chevron sought to rebuild a directly controlled Australian downstream presence after selling its Caltex Australia stake.
Action taken
Chevron Australia Downstream acquired Puma Energy’s Australian operations, including associated retail assets and smaller local brands.
Aftermath
Chevron began converting selected sites to Caltex and re-established the brand as a Chevron-operated Australian network.
2019
Terminate the Australian Caltex trademark licenceStrategyBackground
Chevron and Caltex Australia no longer shared the same ownership, and Chevron chose to change the brand’s future use in Australia.
Action taken
Chevron gave notice that the Australian licence would end on 30 June 2020, with a staged exclusivity and non-exclusivity transition period.
Aftermath
Caltex Australia changed its name to Ampol and completed the removal of the licensed Caltex identity by the end of 2022, while Chevron relaunched Caltex separately in Australia.
2015
Sell Chevron’s stake in Caltex AustraliaM&ABackground
Chevron reviewed its Australian downstream ownership while Caltex Australia operated as a publicly traded company.
Action taken
Chevron sold its 50 percent shareholding in Caltex Australia, while the Australian business continued using the Caltex brand under licence.
Aftermath
Caltex Australia became independent from Chevron’s equity ownership but remained commercially connected through trademark licensing until the later rebrand to Ampol.
Transaction valuation. AU$9.24 billion valuation reported for Caltex Australia (2015)
2001
Integrate Caltex into the merged Chevron-Texaco groupM&ABackground
Chevron’s acquisition of Texaco ended the original parent-company joint venture structure behind Caltex.
Action taken
The former Caltex corporation was reorganized as a wholly owned subsidiary of the combined company, while the Caltex trademark continued in regional markets.
Aftermath
Caltex remained a regional brand under Chevron rather than an independent petroleum corporation.
Recent events
Caltex launches Kebdao loyalty platform[3]
Caltex officially launched Kebdao, a digital loyalty platform connecting fuel and non-oil services with rewards and offers from Caltex and its partners. The company said the platform is part of its digitalization strategy.
Reported
Caltex Biyaheng Pamasko fuel discount promotion[4]
Caltex offered discounts of Php 3 per liter on specified gasoline products and Php 2 per liter on specified diesel fuel at participating stations in the Philippines during the Biyaheng Pamasko promotion.
Reported
Chevron and AML sign Caltex lubricants license agreement[5]
Chevron Brands International and AFAL Manufacturing Limited (AML) signed a long-term license agreement covering production, distribution, and marketing of Caltex lubricants in six East African countries. Chevron will provide technology, while AML will blend, market, and distribute the lubricants.
Reported
Astron Energy announces Caltex station rebrand[6]
Astron Energy announced that it will consolidate operations under the Astron Energy brand and rebrand more than 850 Caltex service stations in South Africa and Botswana in phases over the next few years.
Reported
Caltex offers fuel discounts to vaccinated motorists in the Philippines[7]
Caltex offered vaccinated motorists discounts under its Biyaheng Bakunado promotion at participating stations in the Philippines from June 28 to July 18, 2021. Discounts were P3 per liter for Platinum and Silver fuel and P2 per liter for Diesel.
Reported
Caltex and Lalamove announce regional partnership[8]
Chevron Philippines Inc., marketer of Caltex, announced a regional partnership with Lalamove Philippines to provide fuel savings to Lalamove partner drivers. The article says Singapore was the first Lalamove country to launch and go live, and the Philippines followed.
Sources9 sources
- 1Caltexen.wikipedia.org
- 2Caltex official websitecaltex.com
- 3Caltex推出Kebdao忠诚度平台newswit.com
- 4Caltex Biyaheng Pamasko燃油折扣促销philkotse.com
- 5Chevron与AML签署Caltex润滑油许可协议gulfnews.com
- 6Astron Energy宣布Caltex加油站品牌重塑bizcommunity.com
- 7Caltex 在菲律宾为已接种疫苗的驾车人士提供燃油折扣pageone.ph
- 8加德士与 Lalamove 宣布区域合作gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
- 9Caltex offers discounts to vaccinated motoristssunstar.com.ph
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