The Esso Oil Company closes its business in South Africa

Date: 31 Dec 1986
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Esso South Africa withdrew business from South Africa on 31 December 1986. The country was at the height of political conflict and violence that made it hard for most foreign companies to remain operational. Esso South Africa was an affiliate of America’s Exxon. It was one of the main producers of petroleum products. Esso was one of the many companies to withdraw their business from South Africa during the eighties. However, many other companies chose to stay in the hope that they could contribute in the eradication of apartheid and achievement of equality. One of the companies that chose to remain in the country was Mobil, which later merged with Exxon to form ExxonMobil.

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01MBendi Information Sercvices Esso Africa - South Africa [online] Available at: www.mbendi.com [Accessed on 10 December 2012]
02ExxonMobil About us [online] Available at: www.exxonmobil.com [Accessed on 10 December 2012

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, December 20). The Esso Oil Company closes its business in South Africa. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094443

South African History Online (2012) 'The Esso Oil Company closes its business in South Africa', South African History Online, 20 December. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094443 (Accessed: 21 September 2026).

South African History Online, The Esso Oil Company closes its business in South Africa [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094443, (accessed 21 September 2026).

"The Esso Oil Company closes its business in South Africa." South African History Online, 20 Dec. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094443. Accessed 21 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "The Esso Oil Company closes its business in South Africa." South African History Online. December 20, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094443.