Chevron Corporation announced that its affiliate, Chevron Belgium N.V., has signed an agreement with WhiteChem, SA, Geneva, Switzerland, to use its Istanbul-based agent, chemicals distribution company Ekin Kimya, as the authorized distributor of Chevron premium base oils and process oils in Turkey.

Since its founding in 1995, Ekin Kimya has established itself as the leading supplier of high quality chemicals and additives in Turkey. As part of Ak-tas, one of the largest industrial chemicals distributors in Turkey,

Ekin Kimya will offer prospective customers a full range of services, including local storage, logistics and importantly, support from a highly experienced technical staff.

Turkey is at the crossroads of trade between Europe, Asia and Africa. It has become a hub with over USD 2 Trillion worth of freight moving through the region. More than 60% of that will be by road. To support the growing industry, Turkey is building more than 5,500 km of new roadway. The fleet moving on that roadway is growing and the vehicles are getting newer. The engines require higher performing lubricants for optimal performance.

“We are very excited to represent Chevron Group II base oils. As Turkey’s transport role grows, so does our need to supply premium lubricants. Chevron premium base oils are an important link to the future for our customers,” said Muharrem Aktas, Chairman of Ak-Tas. Gamze Çitiroğlu, General Manager of Ekin Kimya, added,

“Critically important to us in aligning with Chevron is their supply reliability. With three plants producing base oils with the same specs, we are confident that we will always be able to meet our customers’ needs.”

With technical expertise in both additives and base oils, as well as extensive experience importing in the chemical industry, Ekin Kimya is uniquely qualified to help its customers navigate the changing needs of the lubricants market. Ekin Kimya will offer Chevron Group II products, Chevron Neutral Oil 100R, Chevron Neutral Oil 220R and Chevron Neutral Oil 600R as well as Chevron’s process oils, Paramount 1001, Paramount 2401 and Paramount 6001. Storage will be conveniently located at Solventas Terminals in the Gebze area.

“Ekin Kimya’s breadth of service combined with its technical experience and commitment to operational excellence make it an ideal partner for us in supporting the needs of regional lubricant marketers. Of particular importance is its import expertise," said Cary Knuth, Vice President, Chevron Base Oils.

There is no in-region production of premium base oils, which are necessary to satisfy Turkey’s growing demand for premium lubricants. The distribution relationship between Chevron, WhiteChem and Ekin Kimya creates a de facto source of local supply and minimizes import complexities for lubricant formulators. Quality driven, Ekin Kimya has ISO 9001/14001 and BS OHSAS 18001 certification for import, storage, sales and delivery of chemical materials, as well as TUV ISO 27001 certification for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).