Chevron U.S.A. Inc. announced that its Brazilian affiliate has established Chevron’s first Group II South American supply hub in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A complete product line will be inventoried at the facility, including Group II grades 100R, 220R, and 600R.

Chevron’s growing Group II base oils presence in South America will give finished lubricant producers more formulating flexibility in meeting tightening specifications for better fuel economy and reduced tailpipe emissions, the company said. “This new supply hub highlights Chevron’s commitment to providing reliable supply of premium base oil to lubricant producers in Brazil and other South America markets as they transition to new formulations and grow to meet the increasing lubricants demand in South America," said Cary Knuth, General Manager, Base Oils, Chevron Lubricants.

The hub in Rio de Janeiro can be supplied with base oil from Chevron’s new state-of-the-art base oil plant that successfully started up in the second quarter of this year in Pascagoula, Mississippi, as well as its existing base oil plant in Richmond, California, and its joint venture facility with GS Caltex in Yeosu, South Korea. The addition of the Pascagoula plant positions Chevron to be the global leader in premium base oil production and the only Group II producer with multiple plants that produces a global slate of fungible base oils. From this new hub in Rio de Janeiro, Chevron will be able to cover all volumes required by South America marketers.