UKLA President’s Report
Managing in turbulent times has become the industry’s new reality. Since COVID, the lubricants sector has not returned to a pre-pandemic equilibrium, and what now confronts us appears less a temporary disruption than a persistent state of instability.
Recent conflict in the Middle East, has led to significant supply disruptions across the sector. One consequence has been the near disappearance of the spot market for base oils, particularly Group III. Even blenders with established supply contracts have found themselves subject to allocations as shortages continue to constrain the market.
In Europe, the framework for managing supply disruptions in automotive engine oils is already well defined. The ATIEL Code of Practice provides a mechanism by which individual marketers may make representations directly to the technical association of the European lubricants industry, offering a structured and transparent route to managing exceptional supply constraints.
In response to these exceptional circumstances, ILMA, the North American Lubricants Association, secured Emergency Provisional Licensing from the American
Petroleum Institute. This measure permits licensees making claims against API oil categories to temporarily substitute base oils or other components rendered unavailable due to force majeure, for a period of up to 90 days. A similar request made by ILMA to General Motors in relation to the dexos2 specification was, however, declined.
The strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz to raw material supply cannot be overstated. While it accounts for approximately 20% of supply-based shipments, the displacement of this volume to alternative supply routes has a disproportionate destabilising effect on global markets. This has been clearly reflected in recent months through escalating crude and base oil prices.
It is my hope that by the time this article is published, progress will have been made through an extension of the ceasefire and a cessation of hostilities, allowing markets to begin the process of stabilisation.
The circumstances leading to the current situation are deeply regrettable. Nevertheless, as an industry, we have a responsibility to work constructively with governments and stakeholders to support efforts aimed at restoring stability. In doing so, we can continue to serve our customers reliably and uphold the standards they rightly expect.
Harald Oosting, UKLA President
UEIL President’s Report
I hope you are all enjoying the spring sunshine, wherever you may be. For UEIL, spring has been another productive season as we continue our efforts to ensure our industry’s voice is heard across key policy discussions in Europe.
I am pleased to share that UEIL recently published an article in The Parliament Magazine addressing the unintended consequences of ETS2 for two-stroke oils. This platform reaches an influential audience of Members of the European Parliament, European Commission officials, and Member State representatives, ensuring that our industry’s concerns are clearly communicated to the highest levels of EU decision-making.
On the sustainability front, the ATIEL & UEIL Joint Sustainability Committee (JSC) has achieved an important milestone. Its re-certified Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)
4 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.193 JUNE 2026
Methodology has now been included in the Catena-X PCF Rulebook, the automotive industry’s collaborative data ecosystem, designed to enable consistent and comparable carbon footprint data across the value chain. The inclusion of our methodology, aligned with ISO 14067, marks a significant step forward for the lubricants and specialty fluids sector, supporting transparency, interoperability, and trust between suppliers and OEMs.
Looking ahead, I am delighted to announce that registrations are now open for the 2026 UEIL Annual Congress, taking place from 30 September to 2 October in Amsterdam. Under the theme “Formulating the future: Driving innovation for global competitiveness,” the event will bring together industry leaders and experts to explore key topics including trade, innovation, sustainability, and European policy.
I encourage you to secure your early bird tickets and join us for what promises to be a valuable and forward- looking event.
Mattia Adani, UEIL President
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