Ultragaz

What Ultragaz does

Ultragaz is a Brazilian energy distribution company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the publicly traded conglomerate Ultrapar Participações S.A. Founded in 1937 by Austrian immigrant Ernesto Igel (originally as Empresa Brasileira de Gás a Domicílio), Ultragaz is credited with introducing LPG (liquefied petroleum gas / GLP) for domestic use in Brazil and operates today as the country's pioneer LPG brand with 80+ years of operating history. Its portfolio spans bottled LPG (the iconic "botijão azul" blue cylinder), bulk LPG supply (GLP a granel), biomethane for industrial decarbonization, specialty industrial gases (butane, propane, BIP mixture, refrigerants R290 and R493a), and electricity brokerage through Brazil's Mercado Livre de Energia (free energy market). The company serves residential consumers, condominiums, hotels and hospitality, healthcare, industrial manufacturing, and agribusiness customers across Brazil.

The company distributes through a multi-channel model combining a national authorized reseller franchise network (minimum R$80k investment per outlet), direct-to-consumer digital channels (Ultragaz mobile app, website, WhatsApp, telephone hotlines), enterprise field sales with site visits and 3D project design, and partnerships with retail chains via the Vale Gás voucher program. On the technology side, Ultragaz operates an integrated digital ecosystem including the consumer-facing app, the AmigU driver app (GPS-based route optimization, delivery management, driver rating), the Ully AI-powered virtual assistant on WhatsApp/web, and self-service portals (Minha Ultragaz for residents, businesses, resellers, and free energy market clients). Sustainability initiatives include biomethane production, solar PPAs (notably a 192MW agreement with Qair for the Bom Jardim project in Ceará), and eco-friendly logistics bases in Miramar (Pará) and Mucuripe (Ceará).

The business model is hybrid: per-transaction pay-as-you-go for residential bottled LPG, monthly recurring contracts for bulk LPG supply and biomethane to industrial and enterprise customers, subscription pricing for electricity market services (up to 40% savings on electricity bills for commercial/industrial clients, 20% for residential clients via Energia Inteligente), specialty gas contracts with technical consulting, and one-time franchise/license fees from authorized resellers. Pricing for LPG cylinders is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based. Customer engagement is reinforced by the Indique e Ganhe referral program and the Vale Gás voucher program. Headquartered in São Paulo at Av. Brigadeiro Luís Antônio 1.343, the company employs 1,001–5,000 people and is complemented by a separate legal entity, Bahiana Distribuidora de Gás Ltda., which owns the BRASILGAS brand from the same address.

Name

Ultragaz

Legal name

COMPANHIA ULTRAGAZ S.A.

Website

https://ultragaz.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Ultragaz is a Brazilian LPG distribution pioneer (founded 1937) and subsidiary of Ultrapar, supplying bottled and bulk gas, biomethane, specialty gases, and electricity brokerage to residential, commercial, and industrial customers nationwide through a national reseller network and integrated digital ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LPG and Energy Distribution

NAICS

Natural Gas Distribution (2212), Natural Gas Distribution (22121)

SIC

Natural Gas Distribution (4924)

akta.pro primary industry

Distributed Energy & Gas Solutions Sales (CHP, Microgrids, On-site Gas Supply) (EUAAADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

RNG Interconnection, Gas Quality & Upgrading Compliance (EUAJAJAC), Branded Fuels Wholesaling & Jobber Distribution (EUALAIAB)

Keywords

• LPG gas distribution
• Bottled gas supply
• Bulk industrial gas
• Biomethane production
• Energy market brokerage

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. LPG Bottled Gas (Botijão de GLP): Sale of bottled LPG (the iconic blue gas cylinder) to residential consumers and small businesses through a network of authorized resellers and direct digital channels. Consumers purchase refills and pay per delivery. Revenue is generated per transaction on a pay-as-you-go basis. The company also sells the physical cylinder to new customers.
2. Bulk LPG Supply (GLP a Granel): Large-volume LPG supply to industrial customers, large commercial operations (hotels, restaurants, hospitals), condominiums, and agribusiness via dedicated tanker trucks with scheduled and automatic delivery. Customers typically operate on contractual terms with regular scheduled refills.
3. Biomethane (Biometano): Sale of purified biomethane — a renewable energy product derived from biogas (produced by decomposition of organic waste) — as a direct substitute for natural gas in industrial applications. Helps industries reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 99%.
4. Electric Energy Services (Mercado Livre de Energia): Brokerage and consulting services for industrial and commercial customers in Brazil's free energy market (Mercado Livre de Energia), enabling access to renewable electricity at fixed prices below standard tariff rates. Customers connect through the Ultragaz portal and receive energy credits offset against their distribution bill. Partner: Witzler Group.
5. Specialty Gases (Gases Especiais): Supply of specialty industrial gases including butane, propane, BIP mixture (butane + propane), R290 and R493a (refrigerant fluids) to various industry segments with customized technical consulting.
6. Reseller Network Franchising: Ultragaz authorizes independent entrepreneurs to operate as official Ultragaz resellers. Resellers invest a minimum of R$80k to open a branded outlet and earn margin on gas sales. Ultragaz provides the brand, supply chain, and operational support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Ultragaz distributes Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG/GLP) in bottled cylinders and bulk form to residential, commercial, industrial, condominium, and agribusiness customers across Brazil. Beyond its LPG core, the company supplies biomethane for industrial decarbonization, brokers free energy market electricity access, and sells specialty industrial gases (butane, propane, refrigerants). Distribution runs through a nationwide authorized reseller network, direct-to-consumer digital channels (app, WhatsApp, website, telephone), and a dedicated enterprise sales team providing gas infrastructure installation and 24-hour technical assistance.

Product overview

Ultragaz offers an integrated energy portfolio combining LPG gas distribution with renewable energy solutions. The core product is Gás (LPG) serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers through multiple channels including the Ultragaz App for ordering and the AmigU delivery driver app. Adjacent products include Biometano for industrial decarbonization and Energia Elétrica through the free energy market with Economia Exponencial. Special Gases serve industrial needs, while customer self-service is provided through multiple Portal platforms. An AI-powered virtual assistant (Ully) provides customer support, and the Vale Gás program enables voucher-based purchasing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gás GLP (LPG Bottled and Bulk) Liquefied Petroleum Gas sold as bottled cylinders to residential consumers and small businesses and as bulk supply to industrial, commercial, hotel, hospital, condominium, and agribusiness customers. Includes per-cylinder refill transactions and contract-based scheduled bulk delivery.
• Biometano (Biomethane) Purified biomethane derived from biogas (decomposition of organic waste) sold to industrial customers as a renewable substitute for natural gas to support decarbonization goals.
• Economia Exponencial (Mercado Livre de Energia) Brokerage and managed service enabling industrial and commercial clients in Brazil's free energy market to purchase renewable electricity at fixed prices below standard tariff rates, with no upfront investment.
• Energia Inteligente (Residential Energy Credits) Subscription program delivering 20% residential electricity bill discounts through renewable energy credits sourced from independent producers.
• Gases Especiais (Specialty Industrial Gases) Supply of specialty industrial gases — butane, propane, BIP (butane + propane blend), and refrigerant fluids R290 and R493a — to industrial customers with technical consulting.
• Ultragaz App Mobile app for iOS and Android enabling residential and small business customers to order LPG cylinders, schedule deliveries, manage bills, set purchase reminders, and pay via credit card, debit card, PIX, or cash on delivery.
• AmigU Driver App Mobile application for Ultragaz delivery drivers enabling GPS route optimization, delivery assignment management, consumer rating tracking, and participation in the Premiação Ultragaz loyalty program.
• Vale Gás Voucher Program Prepaid gas voucher program allowing customers to buy LPG cylinders through partner retail outlets, driving foot traffic to the Ultragaz reseller network.
• Medição Individualizada (Individualized Gas Metering for Condominiums) Per-apartment or per-unit gas metering system for condominiums with centralized LPG supply, enabling individual billing and consumption management.
• Authorized Reseller Program (Quero Ser Revendedor Ultragaz) Franchise program allowing independent entrepreneurs to operate official Ultragaz-branded LPG distribution outlets across Brazil, with a minimum R$80k investment and multi-year contract.
• Portal Minha Ultragaz (Customer Self-Service Portals) Self-service web portals for residents (Portal Morador), businesses (Portal Empresas), resellers (Portal MAP), and free energy market clients to manage bills, service requests, meter readings, and accounts.
• Ully Virtual Assistant AI-powered virtual assistant (chatbot) deployed on WhatsApp and web chat to handle customer inquiries, service requests, and technical support for gas supply and other Ultragaz services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 99% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when switching to biomethane from conventional fuels
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• QaircoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Qair, a French independent power producer, signed a solar PV power purchase agreement (PPA) with Ultragaz for its 192MW Bom Jardim project in Ceará, Brazil. The project is part of a larger solar complex of 439MW across ten PV plants. The agreement represents a step in Qair's strategy to lead Brazil's private sector energy transition. Ultragaz receives renewable electricity supply under this PPA, supporting its sustainability goals.
• Witzler GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Witzler Group is Brazil's energy management partner powering Ultragaz's 'Economia Exponencial' free energy market product. Through this partnership, Ultragaz enables industrial and commercial customers to access the Mercado Livre de Energia (free energy market), purchasing renewable electricity at fixed prices with savings of up to 40%. Witzler provides the technical energy management expertise and generation credits that are offset against customers' utility bills.
• Elo (Payment Network)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUltragaz has a payment partnership with Elo, a Brazilian payment card network. The 'Regulamento – Parceria Elo + Ultragaz' program allows Elo cardholders to access promotional offers when purchasing Ultragaz products and services.
• Independent Renewable Energy ProducerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUltragaz has partnerships with independent renewable energy producers (solar and wind) who generate electricity that is transmitted through regional distribution utilities to residential customers enrolled in the 'Energia Inteligente' program. Customers receive 20% discounts on electricity bills without installing solar panels or living near wind farms.
• Ultrapar ParticipaçõescoreOthersUltragaz is a business unit of Ultrapar Participações S.A., a Brazilian diversified energy holding company. Ultrapar's other business units include Ipiranga (fuel distribution with 6,800+ gas stations), Oxiteno (specialty chemicals exported to 60+ countries), and Ultracargo (liquid logistics). The group generated revenue of $6.66B in Q4 2025 and has an FY2026 investment plan of up to R$2.6B.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Liquigás: Brazil's largest LPG distributor and Ultragaz's primary direct competitor. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Cosan, distributes bottled and bulk LPG across Brazil serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers with similar products and reseller model.
• Comgás: Brazil's largest piped natural gas distributor, serving the São Paulo state region. Direct competitor in the broader cooking/heating gas market for residential and commercial customers where piped gas competes with bottled LPG.
• Supergasbras: Major Brazilian LPG distributor owned by Dutch SHV Energy. Competes directly with Ultragaz in bottled and bulk LPG across residential, commercial, and industrial segments with comparable distribution model and customer base.
• Nacional Gás Butano: Portuguese LPG distributor with Brazilian operations, competing in bottled LPG and bulk supply. Direct competitor to Ultragaz in both residential and commercial segments with similar bottled distribution model.
• White Martins: Brazil's largest industrial and medical gases company, subsidiary of Linde. Competes with Ultragaz in the specialty gases segment for industrial customers (butane, propane, refrigerant gases).
• Bahiana Distribuidora de Gás (BRASILGAS): Sister company to Ultragaz under Ultrapar, distributing LPG under the BRASILGAS brand primarily in northeastern Brazil. Effectively a corporate sibling serving the same market with overlapping products.
• Air Liquide Brasil: Industrial and specialty gases competitor in Brazil, subsidiary of Air Liquide Group. Overlaps with Ultragaz's specialty gases offering (R290, R493a refrigerants, industrial gas supply).

Broad incumbents

• Ipiranga: Sister company to Ultragaz under Ultrapar, Brazil's second-largest fuel distribution network with 6,800+ gas stations. Provides scale benchmark as another energy distribution business under the same parent, though focused on liquid fuels.
• Compass Gás & Energia: Brazilian natural gas distribution and energy company. Competes in broader gas distribution and energy services space including free energy market, serving industrial customers with comparable products.
• Auren Energia: Major Brazilian integrated energy company with renewable generation and energy trading. Adjacent competitor in the free energy market space where Ultragaz offers brokerage services through Witzler partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ultragazoficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/ultragazoficial

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ultragaz