Egyptian car assembler GB Auto has agreed to an exclusive local distributorship deal with Gazprom Neft, the oil-producing arm of Russia's Gazprom, to expand into Egypt's lubricants market, the company said last Wednesday. GB Auto said it was planning to sell Gazpromneft-branded products through its own distribution network as well as third-party distributors.

"Egypt today has a huge economic potential. Its lubricant market is estimated at 400,000-450,000 tonnes and shows 4 to 5 percent annual growth," said Alexander Trukhan, General Director of Gazpromneft Lubricants in a joint statement.

George Morvey, Industry Manager, Kline's Energy Practice advised OEM/Lube News that its data shows Egypt's 2012 overall lube demand was 401.0 KT and that the lubricant market share was held by ExxonMobil, 27%, Coop, 23%, Misr, 19%, Shell, 11%, Chevron, 8%, Total, 5% and Others, 6%.

Morvey also advised OEM/Lube News that Gazpromneft Lubricants holds 15 percent of Russia's 1,705.0 KT lubricants market and that Lukoil is the lubricant market share leader at 29%, followed by Rosneft, 16%, Gazpromneft, 15%, TNK, 10%, Shell, 7%, ExxonMobil, 6%, Bashneftechem, 5%, Russneft, 2%, SK, 1%, Others, 9%.

Gazpromneft also distributes its products to Europe, Serbia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Central Asia, according to its website.