Saudi Aramco last Thursday announced its intention to enter the base oils business. The firm has been in the base oils business for many years through its JVs which produce and market base oils independently. The company said it made the announcement as part of its effort to optimize the value of its petroleum molecules and grow its refining and chemicals portfolio. Said Al-Hadrami: "Our base oils brands launch will capitalize on our renowned reputation of high quality products and our prominent position in meeting customers needs".
Saudi Aramco has been integrating its downstream business in refining and marketing, in which petrochemicals and differentiated products play a major role.
Said Al-Hadrami, Vice President International Operations said: We are very excited to launch our base oils brands and intend to streamline our base oils strategy, capitalizing on Saudi Aramcos vast experience in the oil industry, its renowned reputation of high quality products and its prominent position worldwide in meeting customers needs. We will also build on the tremendous base oil industry experience within our affiliates, which spans several decades.
Saudi Aramco is seeking synergies among its affiliates by way of automotive Group II slates interchangeability and linkage. In order to advance these synergies, Saudi Aramco successfully completed a technical program based on 15 applications covering industry needs that include American Petroleum Institute engine oils requirements.
Furthermore, the Company said it successfully finalized the Passenger Car Motor Oil program as per the European ATIEL Code of Practice, and the successful finalization of the Heavy Duty Motor Oil program is expected within the year.
In addition to the Group II slates interchangeability and linkage synergies, Saudi Aramco said it is also exploring further synergies among its affiliates with respect to their base oils offerings along with streamlining the marketing of these offerings in order to better serve customers.
In its statement, Saudi Aramco also announced the launch of its three B-to-B base oils brands, namely aramcoDURA, aramcoPRIMA and aramcoULTRA.
