ExxonMobil announced last Wednesday the expansion of its global slate of EHC(TM) base stocks with the introduction of EHC(TM) 120, a heavy neutral Group II base stock. EHC 120 will soon be available in Rotterdam, The Netherlands for distribution in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EAME), and in Baytown, Texas for distribution in North and South America.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to grow our Group II manufacturing, we are excited to officially announce the addition of EHC 120 and offer our valued customers high-performance, heavy neutral and light neutral base stocks in three key continents,” said Ted Walko, Global Basestocks and Specialties Marketing Manager. “Our EHC Group II base stocks provide a robust set of benefits, and, our newly expanded offering will help formulators further streamline their base stock operations. We’re confident our EHC Group II base stocks are well-positioned to serve as the products of choice for lubricant formulators challenged to meet a wide range of stringent technical requirements, with a single base stock slate.”

ExxonMobil’s EHC slate already includes EHC 110, a heavy neutral base stock for the Asia-Pacific (AP) market, and three light-to-medium neutrals – EHC 45 and EHC 65, available in the Americas, and EHC 50, for AP and soon for EAME.

ExxonMobil will begin production at its Rotterdam, Netherlands refinery, following the completion of its hydrocracker expansion project. Startup at Rotterdam is on track to begin in the fourth quarter 2018, with full commercialization of EHC 120 targeted for the first quarter 2019. The company also confirmed its capability to produce EHC 120 in Baytown, Texas, with availability to customers expected in 2019.

“With the addition of EHC 120 Group II base stocks in Europe, the ExxonMobil team is strengthening its efficient and secure global base stocks supply chain,” added Walko. “We will continue our dialogue with customers regarding their needs as we increase our supply network. Preserving product integrity and the reliable supply of products from our network of locations is of the utmost importance to our team.”

ExxonMobil stated that collaborative work with additive companies during the project pre-marketing period will allow ExxonMobil customers to take full advantage of Rotterdam’s products EHC 50 and EHC 120 as soon as they are commercialized. These approvals include lubricant formulations that comply with the latest industry specifications (e.g. ACEA 16, API CK4/FA4, etc.).

Once the Rotterdam project is complete, ExxonMobil said it will be the only global Group I and Group II producer with significant manufacturing assets across three continents.