Call for return of Amoco brand on US forecourts a fresh blow for BP

Embattled oil giant BP was last night facing pressure to re-name its US petrol stations under their old Amoco brand as the backlash against the company in America shows no sign of easing.

The distributors who control most of the group's US forecourts are pushing the firm to revert back to the traditional American branding for fear of further sales pain following the Gulf of Mexico rig explosion and oil spill, according to reports.

BP shed the Amoco brand shortly after merging with the US oil group in 1998, but the 475 distributors believe its revival across petrol stations could help bring customers back.

They are said to be seeing sales fall by up to 40 per cent in the worst hit sites as Americans shun the BP brand.

John Kleine, executive director of the BP Amoco Marketers Association, which represents US distributors, said: "They (the distributors] are interested in where the brand is going and want it to be returned to its premier place."

He added: "Those fires have been fuelled in the last week by a former Amoco executive (Bob Dudley] being named to assume the role of (BP] chief executive."

A separate report yesterday also suggested BP may be forced to wind down its operations in the Gulf of Mexico after American lawmakers passed a bill that could halve its production there.