Keeping the world moving: Navigating lubricant supply through global disruption

Global events test even the most resilient supply chains. Today, the lubricants industry is navigating a complex situation as facilities in the Middle East have come offline or cannot move key raw materials.

These disruptions are affecting every part of the value chain—from crude supply to base oil production and finished lubricants.

Why lubricants matter

Lubricants like Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil are essential to modern life in countless, often unseen, ways. They reduce friction and heat inside engines and machinery, thereby helping enable mobility, power generation, and manufacturing.

From airplanes and ships to trucks and cars, lubricants like engine oils help keep critical components operating safely, efficiently, and reliably.

At the heart of the current disruption are base oils—the building blocks of finished lubricants. A significant share of base oil production and its crude oil feedstock come from the Middle East, so tightening supply and blocked infrastructure are creating ripple effects across global lubricant markets.

Responding to disruption

As a leading supplier of base oils to lubricant manufacturers, our focus is clear: support our customers with practical, innovative solutions—even when that means making tough calls to manage limited supply as responsibly as possible.

Our integrated lubricants value chain sets us apart in addressing this challenge. Because our operations span across crude production, refining, base oils, finished lubricants, logistics, and more—we can respond dynamically to changing conditions.

We’re also taking the following targeted actions to keep lubricant supply moving:

• Adjust our base oils production mix to better serve market needs.
  We’re making targeted adjustments to our product mix to maximize the availability of base oils in the shortest supply. While these market conditions are more complex than any one player can solve, our integrated manufacturing footprint and supply chain uniquely position us to apply our global solutions and scale to address local constraints.
• Procure necessary crude and feedstocks through our global trading organization.
  We are working to identify and secure alternative feed sources used to make base oils and finished lubricants, leveraging advantages enabled by our integrated company structure. This helps keep our manufacturing sites running and supports continued production of essential lubricants.
• Reformulate products with alternative inputs while maintaining the same high standards.
  Every engine requires approved lubricants with precise specifications. Our scientists are collaborating with major auto manufacturers to develop alternative formulas that meet those high standards. For example, Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil’s unique specs drive its high-performance reputation, and we’re working with customers to keep delivering the results they need. This deep technical work takes time because there are no shortcuts to safety and quality.

Our leading capabilities build on decades of investment in technology, industry relationships, and supply chain resilience. No company is immune to global volatility, but we bring the scale, expertise, and integration needed to quickly adapt amid complex conditions. Strategic investments like our Baytown refinery reconfiguration project are part of the effort to strengthen long-term flexibility for these product value chains.

Challenges like these aren’t resolved overnight, but they can be managed. In times like these, a steady and collaborative partner with an advantaged portfolio makes all the difference. ExxonMobil remains focused on helping our customers move forward—no matter the conditions.