How did john

d. rockefeller's standard oil corporation come to control 95% of the nation's oil refining capacity by the 1880s?

Standard Oil dominated the oil products market initially through horizontal integration in the refining sector, then, in later years vertical integration. The company was an innovator in the development of the business trust.

The Standard Oil trust streamlined production and logistics, lowered costs, and undercut competitors. "Trust-busting" critics accused Standard Oil of using aggressive pricing to destroy competitors and form a monopoly that threatened other businesses, due this gave standard oil and edge over competitors which kept the company in a pole position in the downstream oil and gas sector.

After the passage of the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890, standard oil was broken up in 39 different companies that are major players in the oil and gas industry till date, as thus controlling a larger percentage of world oil distribution and supply.