France: Investment Exxon Mobil Increases Production Capacity of Synthetic Base Stock

Exxon Mobil has undertaken the move due to an increase in demand for low viscosity polyalphaolefin synthetic base stocks as well as to improve its global supply chain network. The company is actively investing in its production facilities and supply chain capabilities in order to stay ahead in the base stocks industry.

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Houston/USA – Exxon Mobil Chemical Synthetics has recently announced that it is responding to customer needs by significantly increasing low viscosity polyalphaolefin synthetic base stocks production capacity and further improving the reliability of its global supply chain network.

Investment in manufacturing facilities has resulted in significantly increased Lo Vis Pao production capacity in France, bringing total plant capacity to 105 kilo-tonnes per year. In addition, to help improve delivery and reliability for customers, the company upgraded and expanded its worldwide supply hubs and transportation systems.

“Our customers demand a growing reliable supply of high performance synthetic base stocks that enable them to innovate confidently,” said Hesham Omar, vice president of Exxon Mobil Synthetics. “Investing in our production facilities and supply chain capabilities allows us to stay at the forefront of the base stocks industry and meet our customer’s long-term ambitions as they grow their business.”

The synthetic lubricant market is forecasted to grow by over 20 per cent between 2017 and 2021. Exxon Mobil Synthetics has four Group IV and V base stock manufacturing facilities supplying over 350 kilo-tonnes across all grades to ensure global supply leadership capabilities. This has enabled Exxon Mobil Synthetics to build a strong reputation of unsurpassed supply reliability and quality.

Global leadership in manufacturing capacity:

- Low-viscosity Pao – an annual global capacity of 209,000 tonnes

- High-viscosity Pao – an annual global capacity of 92,000 tonnes

- Esters and Alkylated Naphthalenes – an annual global capacity of 67,000 tonnes

An increase in production capacity is supported by continual improvements in the firm’s supply chain network. ISO hubs have been expanded, inventory has been forward-deployed in crucial areas and a renewed emphasis has been placed on planning and optimising trucking, shipping and rail operations while upgrading carriers, all supported by a very robust and proven business continuity planning (BCP). This results in a stable, secure and growing supply of synthetic base stocks on a global scale, improved delivery speed and increased supply reliability for customers.

“The market continuously evolves and this continued investment in our capabilities positions us to meet our customer’s long-term needs as they grow their business. As adoption of metallocene synthetic base stocks increases across industrial, automotive and wind turbine markets, we have invested over half a billion dollars in plant capacity improvements in the last five years,” said Omar. “Our synthetic base stocks help formulators create lubricants that are more energy efficient, work under more severe operating conditions, offer extended drain intervals and provide advanced lubricant performance and outstanding equipment protection.”

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