Harms Oil

What Harms Oil does

Harms Oil Company is a family-owned wholesale petroleum and renewable fuels distributor headquartered in Brookings, South Dakota, founded in 1976 by Duane Harms. The company distributes gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, ethanol, propane, lubricants, DEF, kerosene, aviation fuels, and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, industrial, agricultural, aviation, government, education, construction, quarrying, and residential customers across 12 Midwestern states. Operations span bulk fuel delivery, fleet fueling, on-site tank management, transportation/HAZMAT logistics, and renewable-fuel blending.

Name

Harms Oil

Legal name

Harms Oil Company

Website

https://harmsoil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Harms Oil Company is a family-owned wholesale petroleum and renewable fuels distributor serving commercial, industrial, agricultural, and government customers across 12 Midwestern states through bulk fuel delivery, biodiesel blending, and a fleet of 100+ transport trucks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Petroleum Distribution

NAICS

Fuel Dealers (45721), Fuel Dealers (4572)

SIC

Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172), Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Transportation Fuels Retail (EV Charging, Hydrogen, CNG/LNG, Biofuels Blends) (EUALAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Commercial & Fleet Fueling (Cardlock, On-Site Tanks, Bulk Delivery) (EUALAIAD)

Keywords

• Wholesale fuel distribution
• Bulk fuel delivery
• Petroleum sales
• Biodiesel blending
• Renewable fuels distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Brookings

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Petroleum Sales: Sale of petroleum fuels including gasoline and diesel to commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers. Products sourced through partnerships with major fuel refiners and brands.
2. Bulk Fuel Delivery: Large-volume fuel delivery services to businesses with on-site storage needs. Services include fuel contracts (flat rate year-round), portable tank provision, and emergency/same-day delivery.
3. Lubricant Delivery: Delivery of lubricants, motor oils (Chevron and Shell brands), and grease in various packaging sizes from small orders to bulk delivery.
4. Propane Distribution: Propane supply and delivery for residential and commercial customers across the Midwest.
5. Ethanol Wholesale: Wholesale ethanol supplier distributing E10, E15, E85 and other ethanol blends to customers throughout the Midwest for over two decades.
6. Biodiesel Distribution: Distribution of biodiesel blends from B2 to B99 through first-class blending facilities. Year-round blending in Sioux Falls and Council Bluffs.
7. Transportation/HAZMAT Services: Transport of hazardous materials including anhydrous ammonia, asphalt, aviation gasoline, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), jet fuel, kerosene, and chemicals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Harms Oil Company is a wholesale petroleum and renewable fuels distributor that delivers gasoline, diesel, propane, lubricants, aviation fuels, biodiesel, ethanol, and related products to commercial, industrial, agricultural, government, and residential customers across 12 Midwestern states. The company operates a fleet of 100+ transport trucks, multiple regional division offices, logistics terminals, and state-of-the-art biodiesel blending facilities, while also providing bulk fuel delivery, fuel contract management, in-tank electronic monitoring, unit fills, and hazmat transportation services.

Product overview

Harms Oil Company operates as a wholesale petroleum and renewable fuels distributor in the Midwest, offering a portfolio of fuel products including gasoline, diesel, propane, lubricants, and renewable fuels (biodiesel and ethanol). The company provides bulk fuel delivery, transportation logistics, and tank management services through its network of 100+ transport trucks and multiple regional facilities. The product portfolio centers on fuels distribution (Fuels, Diesel) as core offerings, supported by lubricants and propane products, complemented by renewable energy solutions (Biodiesel, Ethanol), with acquired subsidiary James Oil Company expanding Des Moines market coverage. Transportation and bulk delivery services integrate these products with logistics capabilities including unit fills, in-tank monitoring, and fuel contracts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fuels (Gasoline) Wholesale gasoline fuel distribution services providing all grades of fuel to commercial, industrial, and retail customers across the Midwest through partnerships with major fuel brands.
• Diesel Diesel fuel distribution including on-road, off-road, premier blends, heating oil, and winter blend formulations for various commercial and industrial applications.
• Lubricants Bulk lubricant delivery services including motor oil, greases, and associated additives from Chevron and Shell brands, delivered via rail terminals and over 100 transport trucks in various packaging sizes from small orders to bulk delivery.
• Propane Propane supply and delivery services for residential and commercial customers across the Midwest, serving cooking, heating, water heating, and alternative fuel applications.
• Biodiesel Biodiesel distribution and blending services offering B2 to B99 blends with year-round blending facilities in Sioux Falls and Council Bluffs, and seasonal blending in multiple regional locations (Aberdeen, Watertown, Wolsey, Rapid City, SD and Jamestown, ND).
• Ethanol Wholesale ethanol distribution services including E10, E15, and E85 blends, with over 20 years of experience supplying renewable fuels throughout the Midwest.
• Aviation Fuel Aviation fuel delivery services providing AVGas, Jet-A with or without Prist for airports and aviation operators (served through the James Oil Company division).
• Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) distribution meeting ISO 22241 automotive industry specifications, available in various packaging options.
• Kerosene Certified K1 clear kerosene available in drums or bulk delivery for heating and lighting applications.
• Fuel Additives Specialized fuel additives including cold flow additives (lowering CFPP by 15 degrees) and premium additives for cetane improvement, lubricity, and long-term storage.
• Bulk Fuel Delivery Wholesale bulk fuel delivery with same-day emergency service, portable tank rental, unit fills, in-tank monitoring, and fuel contract options for commercial accounts.
• Transportation Services Gas, fuel, and chemical transportation services delivering anhydrous ammonia, asphalt, aviation gasoline, diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, propane, and fuel additives via a fleet of 100+ hazmat-certified drivers.
• James Oil Company (acquired division) Des Moines-based petroleum and renewables distribution division acquired by Harms Oil in 2016, supplying aviation, fleet, commercial trucking, agricultural, and residential customers since 1947.

Named customers8 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dakota OilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Dakota Oil for biodiesel distribution. Dakota Oil is described as a key regional partner in Harms Oil's biodiesel operations.
• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land StewardshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting sustainable biodiesel production and distribution in Iowa, aligning with state agricultural initiatives.
• Minnesota Soybean Growers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting soybean-based biodiesel production and research, leveraging Minnesota's agricultural resources.
• South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting research and promotion of South Dakota soybean-based biodiesel products.
• U.S. Department of EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government partnership supporting renewable fuel research and sustainable energy initiatives.
• Major Fuel Brands (Unnamed)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnerships with major fuel brands allow Harms Oil to distribute products from the brands customers need, when they need them. Brands include Chevron and Shell for lubricants.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CHS Inc. Large U.S. ag and energy cooperative operating wholesale fuel distribution, propane, lubricants and renewable fuels across the Midwest — directly comparable in product breadth and customer base, though materially larger and farmer-owned rather than family-controlled.
• ED&F Man (North America): Global commodities trader with U.S. biofuel and refined products distribution arm — relevant adjacent peer for ethanol/biodiesel wholesale and renewable fuel blending economics.
• Pilot Travel Centers: One of the largest U.S. travel center operators and fuel retailers — comparable as a high-volume diesel/bulk fuel buyer and indirect competitor in commercial trucking fueling services across the Midwest.
• Love's Travel Stops: Major travel center and truck stop operator with bulk fuel needs sourced via wholesale distribution — comparable as a large-volume diesel/fleet customer and adjacent competitor in commercial fueling services.
• Casey's General Stores: Large convenience-store and fuel retailer with significant Midwest footprint — overlapping as a downstream fuel customer and competitor for retail station supply, though operating a different retail-centric model.
• Kum & Go / Maverik: Midwest/multi-state convenience store and fuel retail chain that purchases wholesale fuel and competes for some commercial accounts — relevant comparable for branded fuels distribution to retail customers.

Direct peers

• Petroleum Service Group (PSG): Regional fuel and lubricant distributor delivering wholesale petroleum products, lubricants and bulk fuel services to commercial and industrial customers in the Midwest — closely comparable in bulk delivery model and product mix.
• MFA Oil Company: Midwest farmer-owned cooperative wholesaler of fuel, propane and lubricants across Missouri and adjacent states — directly comparable regional fuel/lubricant distributor with similar ag-customer concentration and renewable fuels activity.
• Mansfield Energy Corp: National wholesale petroleum distributor serving commercial, industrial and government fleets across the U.S. — direct competitor in bulk fuel delivery and fleet fueling contracts, with overlapping products including diesel, gasoline, DEF and biodiesel.
• Truman Arnold Companies (TAC Air / TAC Energy): Privately-held fuel distributor operating wholesale petroleum, aviation fuel, lubricants and bulk delivery across multiple states — directly comparable in aviation fuel and bulk delivery service offerings and customer verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harms-oil-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Harms Oil