Logistics

Lubricants and motor oil

Engine and industrial lubricants — refined base oils blended with additive packages. A 2025–26 squeeze emerged as refiners rationalized Group I/II base-oil capacity even as vehicle-fleet and industrial demand held firm.

Why it matters · Higher prices and spot shortages for motor oil, hydraulic and gear oils; knock-on cost and downtime risk for trucking, farm equipment, and industrial machinery.

2

Inputs

5

Companies

0

Facilities

3

Source countries

What it's made of

The inputs

2 raw inputs feed lubricants and motor oil. Inputs flagged with ● are critical, without them, production halts.

Where it comes from

Country dependencies

Weighted share of upstream inputs sourced from each country.

CountryWeighted shareInputs supplied to lubricants and motor oil
USUnited States22%Base oils (Group II/III)
KRSouth Korea18%Base oils (Group II/III)
SGSingapore10%Base oils (Group II/III)

Who makes it

Supplier companies

5 companies in this supply chain, sorted by market share.

ExxonMobil (XOM)
HQ US13% share

One of the world's largest oil and gas companies; major US and global sulfur producer as a Claus Process refinery byproduct. Key US refining locations: Baytown, Texas (largest US refinery complex); Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Beaumont, Texas. Also major international refiner (Antwerp, Rotterdam). USGS listed as one of leading US recovered sulfur producers. Also holds 25% of Tengizchevroil (TCO) in Kazakhstan, making it indirectly a significant producer of high-sulfur crude and associated sulfur. Acquired Pioneer Natural Resources 2024 (~$60B), largest US oil deal since Exxon-Mobil merger.

Supplies these inputs

Base oils (Group II/III)

Replaceability

Substitutability 40%

Business segments

  • Upstream (Oil & Gas Production)40% rev
  • Downstream (Refining + Fuels + Chemicals)35% rev
  • Low Carbon Solutions (Lithium + CCS)15% rev
  • Chemical Products (ExxonMobil Chemical)10% rev
SK Enmove
HQ KR12% share

World's largest Group III base oil producer (Yubase brand); a subsidiary of SK Innovation (SK Group, South Korea). Operates the world's largest Group III base oil plant at Ulsan, South Korea with ~2.5 million MT/yr capacity. Yubase Group III is the dominant base oil used in "synthetic" engine oils globally (Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum, Shell Helix Ultra source their Group III primarily from Yubase). Formerly known as SK Lubricants, renamed SK Enmove in 2022.

Supplies these inputs

Base oils (Group II/III)

Replaceability

Substitutability 45%

Business segments

Chevron Corporation (San Ramon CA; NYSE: CVX; market cap ~$290B) is a major natural gas producer with operations across Permian Basin TX/NM (both crude oil and associated gas), US Gulf of Mexico deep water, Australia (Gorgon LNG — 15.6 mtpa capacity, Wheatstone LNG — 8.9 mtpa capacity), and Kazakhstan (Tengiz field, predominantly oil but with associated gas). Chevron's Australian LNG operations at Gorgon and Wheatstone are among the world's largest LNG projects and supply predominantly Asian buyers. Permian Basin associated gas volumes have grown substantially as Chevron has expanded Permian crude production. Chevron's attempted acquisition of Hess Corporation (2024, ~$53B) — which would have added Hess's Guyana offshore and Bakken gas positions — faced regulatory challenge from ExxonMobil and CNOOC over pre-emption rights in the Guyana Stabroek Block.

Supplies these inputs

Base oils (Group II/III)

Replaceability

Substitutability 40%

Business segments

  • Upstream (Oil & Gas E&P)65% rev
  • Downstream (Refining & Marketing)28% rev
  • New Energies7% rev