Through the methodology of cases studies, this article analyses: the evolution of the Argentinean oil industry from 1988 to 1996 resulting basically from deregulation started in 1990; the strategic repositioning of Yacimentos Petrolíferos Fiscales and its performance before and after privatization held in 1993. We show that the five competitive forces (Porter, 1980) changed from low to medium level resulting in a competitive environment more hostile. The Yacimentos Petrolíferos Fiscales changed from a position of low significance and/or incoherence between the competitive methods adopted - an evidence of stuck-in-the-middle strategy - to a clear trend toward a differentiation strategy. Yacimentos Petrolíferos Fiscales´s performance evolved coherently with this strategic change, from a ROA loss position of -6.3% (1988-1990), to the current value of 11.4% (1994-1996).
competitive environment; oil industry; competitive strategies; performance; deregulation
