More U.S. Finished Lubricant Prices to Rise

Staff Reports

Shell, BP Lubricants USA, Phillips 66, Citgo and Omni Specialty Packaging informed U.S. customers of upcoming price increases for finished lubricants that take effect from early through mid-December, citing factors such as rising costs in base oils, additives and other raw materials, as well as for packaging and transportation.

Each company said some price changes may fall outside the general increase amount.

• Shell will raise lubricant prices up to 6 percent effective Dec. 11.
• BP Lubricants USA informed customers of increases of up to 6 percent effective Dec. 11 on Castrol and BP branded lubricants.
• Phillips 66 will raise lubricant prices 6 percent effective Dec. 1.
• Citgo plans a general increase of 4 percent to 8 percent on branded and private label lubricants effective Dec. 4.
• Omni Specialty Packaging announced an increase of 6 to 9 percent on both bulk products and packaged goods effective Dec. 1.

Previously, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Chemlube, Cam2 International, Warren Oil, Pinnacle Oil and Smitty’s Supply announced hikes that ranged mostly between 4 and 9 percent, that go into effect from mid-November through early December.

This year also saw two previous rounds of finished lubricant price increases.

One round ranging from 3 percent to 8 percent took place from around Feb. 20 through March 20. Among marketers informing customers about price hikes that took effect during that period were ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, Valvoline, BP Castrol, Phillips 66, Citgo, Omni Specialty Packaging and Cam2.

A second round of increases, most in the range of 3 percent to 9 percent, took effect mainly from mid-May into early June. Among the marketers notifying customers of price increases that went into effect during that period were ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP Castrol, Valvoline, Citgo, Chemlube, Pinnacle Oil, Old World, Martin Lubricants, Cam2 and Smitty’s Supply.