SK Enmove and HF Sinclair agree long-term YUBASE Group III supply and North America distributorship

Key highlights
  • SK Enmove will supply YUBASE Group III base oils to HF Sinclair under a long-term agreement.
  • The underlying contract was executed on August 3 and a signing ceremony took place on August 19 in Seoul.
  • HF Sinclair will manufacture finished lubricants with YUBASE and act as exclusive distributor in select North American regions.
  • SK Enmove operates Group III plants in Ulsan, Spain and Indonesia and exports to more than 40 countries amid global Group III supply tightness.

Deal overview

SK Enmove, a company-in-company of SK On, has entered a long-term supply agreement with HF Sinclair to expand distribution of YUBASE Group III base oils across North America. The underlying contract was executed on August 3 and the signing ceremony was held on August 19 in Seoul, attended by senior executives from both firms.

Product and market context

Group III base oils are a premium lubricant feedstock produced through advanced refining, offering a higher viscosity index and fewer impurities than Group I and II stocks. The global Group III market has recently experienced supply tightness, partly attributed to geopolitical instability in the Middle East disrupting regional refinery operations.

Supply and production

Under the agreement, SK Enmove will supply YUBASE Group III base oils long term; HF Sinclair’s Lubricants & Specialties segment will use those oils to produce finished lubricants and will serve as exclusive distributor in selected parts of North America. SK Enmove operates Group III production facilities in Ulsan, Spain and Indonesia and exports to over 40 countries.

Commercial implications

Both companies say the arrangement combines SK Enmove’s production capacity and stable supply with HF Sinclair’s North American commercial and logistics network to strengthen competitiveness and secure routes to market for premium base oils.

Source: SK Innovation

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