• Company Name: Shell plc

• Founded: 1907 (through the merger of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and The Shell Transport and Trading Company)

• Origins: 1833 (Marcus Samuel’s London import business)

• Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom

• Industry: Energy, Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Renewable Energy

• Type: Public company

• Stock Listings: London Stock Exchange (LSE), Euronext Amsterdam, New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

• Operations: More than 70 countries

• Customers: Millions of retail and business customers worldwide

• Employees: Tens of thousands globally

Early Beginnings (1833–1897)

Shell’s story began in 1833 when Marcus Samuel, a London merchant, expanded his family’s business by importing decorative seashells from Asia. The popularity of these shells inspired the future company name.

Later, Marcus Samuel’s sons entered the petroleum trade, transporting kerosene from Asia to Europe. In 1892, they launched the Murex, the first oil tanker designed to safely transit the Suez Canal carrying bulk oil, revolutionizing international oil transportation. [1]

Formation of Shell Transport

In 1897, the business became:

The Shell Transport and Trading Company

The company quickly expanded into:

• Oil transportation

• Refining

• Fuel distribution

• International trading

The Shell name originated from the family’s earlier seashell import business. [1]

Merger with Royal Dutch (1907)

In 1907, Shell Transport merged with the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company of the Netherlands, forming the Royal Dutch Shell Group.

The merger combined:

• Dutch oil production

• British transportation and marketing

This created one of the largest oil companies in the world. [1]

Modern Shell

In 2022, the company simplified its corporate structure:

• Royal Dutch Shell plc became Shell plc

• Headquarters moved fully to London

• The “Royal Dutch” name was dropped

This reflected a simplified legal and corporate organization. [1]

Shell is an integrated energy company, meaning it operates across the energy value chain.

Upstream

Exploration and production of:

• Crude oil

• Natural gas

• Deep-water resources

• Offshore drilling

Integrated Gas

Shell is one of the world’s largest producers and traders of:

• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

• Natural gas

• Gas-to-liquids (GTL)

Downstream

This includes:

• Fuel refining

• Retail fuel stations

• Lubricants

• Chemicals

• Aviation fuel

• Marine fuel

• Bitumen

• Industrial products

Chemicals

Shell manufactures:

• Plastics

• Chemical feedstocks

• Industrial chemicals

• Solvents

• Specialty products

Low-Carbon Energy

Shell has expanded into:

• Electric vehicle (EV) charging

• Renewable power

• Hydrogen

• Biofuels

• Carbon capture and storage

• Energy trading

The company describes its strategy as providing oil, gas, and lower-carbon energy while the global energy system evolves. [2]

Shell offers a wide range of products, including:

Fuels

• Shell V-Power

• Regular gasoline

• Diesel

• Premium diesel

• Aviation fuel

• Marine fuel

Lubricants

Shell is one of the world’s largest lubricant suppliers.

Popular product lines include:

• Shell Helix

• Shell Rimula

• Shell Advance

• Shell Tellus

• Shell Omala

Chemicals

Products for:

• Automotive

• Construction

• Manufacturing

• Agriculture

• Electronics

Shell operates thousands of fuel stations worldwide.

Typical services include:

• Fuel

• Convenience stores

• Car wash

• EV charging (selected locations)

• Coffee shops

• Fleet services

Many locations also partner with retailers and food outlets.

Shell’s logo is called the Pecten, inspired by a scallop shell.

Evolution

• First logo: 1900 (black-and-white mussel shell)

• Scallop design introduced: 1904

• Red and yellow colors adopted early in the company’s history

The red-and-yellow branding has become one of the most recognized corporate identities worldwide. [1]

Shell has invested in:

• Renewable electricity

• Hydrogen

• Biofuels

• Carbon capture and storage (CCS)

• EV charging infrastructure

At the same time, it remains a major producer of oil and natural gas, and its climate strategy has been the subject of public debate, legal challenges, and scrutiny from investors and environmental groups. [3]

Shell operates in:

• Europe

• Asia

• North America

• South America

• Africa

• Middle East

• Australia

Its customers include:

• Individual motorists

• Airlines

• Shipping companies

• Manufacturers

• Governments

• Commercial fleets

Shell has operated in the Philippines since 1914, when it began as the Asiatic Petroleum Company. Today, Shell companies in the Philippines are active in downstream fuels, lubricants, business operations, and energy services. [2]

Key offerings include:

• Fuel stations

• Shell V-Power fuels

• Shell Helix lubricants

• Commercial fuels

• Aviation fuels

• Marine fuels

• Business operations center in Manila

• EV charging at selected sites

• Shell V-Power

• Shell FuelSave

• Shell Helix

• Shell Advance

• Shell Rimula

• Shell Tellus

• Shell Recharge

Shell states that its business is guided by principles including:

• Safety

• Integrity

• Respect for people

• Sustainability

• Innovation

• Operational excellence

• Customer focus [2]

• The company began as a seashell import business before entering the oil trade. [1]

• The Murex was the first oil tanker to carry bulk oil through the Suez Canal, helping transform global oil transport. [1]

• The Shell logo is among the world’s most recognizable corporate symbols and has been used for over a century. [1]

• Shell is consistently ranked among the world’s largest energy companies by revenue.

Shell plc is a multinational energy company with roots dating back to 1833. From its origins in a London import business selling seashells, it grew into a global enterprise spanning oil and gas exploration, refining, chemicals, lubricants, fuel retail, and increasingly, lower-carbon energy technologies. Its distinctive Pecten logo, worldwide service-station network, and long history have made Shell one of the most recognizable and influential brands in the global energy industry.

1. Our history | Shell Global

2. What we do | About us

3. The Reason Fossil Fuel Companies Are Finally Reckoning With Climate Change