MOSCOW (MRC) -- Repsol signed the purchase agreement for a 40% stake in the Singapore-based lubricants manufacturer United Oil Company, which will manufacture and supply Repsol’s brand of products in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, said Euro-petrole.
The agreement will allow Repsol to increase its presence in Southeast Asia, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing lubricants markets with sales of 3 million metric tons per year and an annual growth rate of 4%.
Southeast Asia, and particularly Indonesia, are key target markets for growth, fitting in with the Strategic Plan 2018–2020 goals to increase the international expansion of the Downstream Unit. Repsol aims to be a top-five player in Indonesia thorough the capabilities incorporated in this partnership.
The deal represents a third regional manufacturing hub to the ones Repsol already has in Spain and Mexico. United Oil Company has two lubricants plants, in Singapore and Indonesia, with total capacity of 140,000 metric tonnes.
The joint venture unveiled today plans to upgrade United Oil Company’s existing manufacturing plant in Indonesia and expand the network of dealers and distributors though a targeted sales and marketing drive. The alliance with United Global Limited will provide immediate access to new customer segments due to the complementary nature of both companies’ brands and product lines.
The partnership in Asia adds to the joint venture created last year with Bardahl of Mexico, completing the foundations for the company’s immediate strategic growth goals. Repsol aims to double its lubricants sales volumes to 300,000 metric tonnes, with 70% sourced from international business units.
Repsol has allocated 1.5 billion euros in investments for the period 2018–2020 for the growth of its Downstream unit, specifically its service stations, petrochemicals and lubricants businesses.
The agreement signed today is subject to the fulfillment of standard authorizations for this type of transaction.
As MRC informed earlier, Repsol resumed operations at its cracker in Sines, Portugal. The news was not directly confirmed by the company while it was not clear as of the time of press whether or not Repsol lifted a force majeure at the site. The company had declared the force majeure on the output from its cracker due to a technical glitch in early September.
Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polyprolypele (PP).
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,255,800 tonnes in the first seven months of 2019, up by 9% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. At the same time, the estimated PP consumption in the Russian market was 796,120 tonnes in January-July 2019, up by 11% year on year. Shipments of PP block copolymer and homopolymer PP increased.
Repsol S.A is an integrated Spanish oil and gas company with operations in 28 countries. The bulk of its assets are located in Spain.
MRC