Representatives of car dealers note that by the spring of 2022, about 70% of Russian service stations experienced a shortage of spare parts and components for engines, to a greater extent, motor oils. In total, more than 30 component manufacturers stopped working with Russian partners in auto retail.
While US and European companies hastily left the Russian market, Asian manufacturers turned the tide in their favor – they began to increase supplies and earn. Lubricant suppliers that have started or continue to do business in Russia are looking to fill the void left by the departure of Shell, Castrol, TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil, which together held more than 25-30% of the motor oil market as of February this year.
SIT Corporation, which owns the rights to MIRAX motor oils, has become one of those Asian companies that has rushed to Russia since Western brands defiantly left the market.
The production of oils of the Korean brand was located simultaneously with the entry into the market. The SIT trusts that in this way the work will be more systematic and stable.
“The location of production in Russia is aimed at reducing the risks associated with the supply of products and their components due to the geopolitical and economic situation,” the company said in an official statement.
Oils under the MIRAX brand are produced at the site of United Petrochemicals (UPEC), located in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, founded in 2018. It annually produces about 500 thousand tons of lubricants, as well as household and automotive chemicals, which allows UPEC to claim the title of the largest blender in Europe. MIRAX’s sales plans are not disclosed, but they believe in increased demand among Russians.
SIT Corporation also believes that the quality of oils produced in Russia will remain at a high level thanks to the experience of UPEC staff, as well as advanced filling and packaging equipment. Separately, the favorable location of the mixture stands out: “The most convenient geographical location in the Kaluga region and a developed logistics infrastructure ensure optimal distribution of oil components and finished products.”
In Russia, motor oils of the most popular specifications are located. MIRAX products are available in the viscosities commonly used on the market (5W-40, 5W-30, 10W-40). Low viscosity synthetic motor oils for modern engines (0W-20, 0W-30) are also available. Such an assortment, as SIT Corporation assures, will cover the needs of more than 90% of cars in the Russian fleet.
In Obninsk, the production of plastic cans has also been established using the zero-waste production method – burrs are not thrown away during the production of containers, but are again involved in production.
Before the end of the year, the production of oils in 1 and 4-liter plastic containers will begin. Today, the production of oils in 60 and 200-liter barrels for B2B customers, service stations, and other wholesale consumers has been established.
