Looking at the lubricants market: Fuchs, Henkel, Q8Oils

It's time for a new issue of Expometals.net's column "Looking at the markets", analysing the performances of three stock companies which are particularly prominent in their market with current information on their business activities. 

This month we're focusing on lubricants manufacturers.

The three companies are:
Fuchs, based in Mannheim, Germany
Henkel, headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany
Q8Oils, based in Kuwait City

We invite you to read also the final paragraph "Latest trends" which considers newly published market surveys and other studies concerning directly or indirectly the mentioned industry, constituting an additional source of information.
---------------------------
Fuchs

Fuchs Petrolub SE, Mannheim/Germany (01/08/2017): The manufacturer of high-performance lubricants and related products with more than 5,000 employees increased in the first six months of 2017 sales revenues by 9.8% to €1,247 million (H1 2016: €1,136 million). The group's organic growth was 7%. The Asia-Pacific, Africa and North and South America regions in particular had strong organic growth in their sales revenues. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) rose by 3.8% to €190 million (H1 2016: €183 million) and earnings after tax increased by 5.5% to €134 million (H1 2016: €127 million).

Projects
In September 2017, Fuchs Petrolub and DMG MORI, a leading producer of machine tools, have signed a collaboration contract. The goal of the partnership is to jointly develop new lubricant solutions and services for machine tool applications. The plan also includes further progress in digitization of production processes and condition monitoring of machines and plants.
Since May 2017, Fuchs Petrolub has been operating a new USD26 million grease manufacturing plant, research laboratory and warehouse near Chicago/USA which will serve the North American automotive, heavy-duty truck, construction, rail and off-road markets. The new laboratory will be used for testing existing products as well as for developing new products. The expansion of the Chicago-area site is part of $359 million in investments that Fuchs is making in its manufacturing and research-and-development facilities between 2016 and 2018. The company also recently expanded its facilities in Mannheim and Kaiserslautern, Germany, and is opening new plants in China, Australia and Sweden.
Outlook
For the 2017 financial year, the group is anticipating growth in sales revenues of 7% to 10% and a rise in EBIT of between 1% and 5%. The Asia-Pacific, Africa region are expected to act as the main driver for sales revenue und earnings growth.
Company presentation/annual report
https://www.fuchs.com/group/investor-relations/publications/annual-report-and-interim-reports/
Sources
https://www.fuchs.com/group/investor-relations/publications/
https://www.onvista.de/news/fuchs-petrolub-schwaecher-nach-den-halbjahreszahlen-68602245
https://sabinelembert.com/2017/08/01/fuchs-petrolub-top-zahlen-top-ausblick/
https://markets.ft.com/data/equities/tearsheet/forecasts?s=FPE3:GER
---------------------------

Henkel

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Düsseldorf/Germany (10/08/2017): The Adhesive Technologies business unit of the chemical and consumer goods group manufactures also lubricants for different applications. This business unit with about 26,000 employees (in 2016) generated in the second quarter 2017 an organic sales growth of 3.4% (compared with the same period of the previous year). Sales grew by 3.5% to €2,370 million. Adjusted operating profit increased by 6.6% and reached 455 million euros. Adjusted return on sales recorded a very strong increase, reaching a new record level at 19.2%.
In fiscal 2016, the Adhesive Technologies business unit generated an organic sales growth of 2.8%. Sales were at €8,961 million (2015: €8,992 million) representing 48% of the group’s total sales. The adjusted operating profit amounted to €1,629 million.

Outlook
Henkel confirms the outlook for the fiscal year 2017. Henkel expects to generate organic sales growth of 2 to 4% and anticipates that each business unit will generate organic sales growth within this range. For adjusted return on sales (EBIT), Henkel expects an increase versus the prior year to more than 17.0%. Henkel expects an increase in adjusted earnings per preferred share (EPS) of between 7 and 9%.

Company presentation/annual report
https://annualreport.henkel.com/
https://annualreport.henkel.com/blob/744410/8121cdc9a86be3b6d8fb6bbf48552db4/data/2016-facts-and-figures.pdf

Sources
https://www.henkel-gcc.com/en/press-media/press-releases-and-kits/2017-08-10-henkel-reports-strong-performance-in-second-quarter/791000
---------------------------

Q8Oils

Q8Oils, Safat/Kuwait: Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI), known by the Q8 brand, refines and markets fuel, lubricants and other petroleum derivatives outside Kuwait with main activities focused on Europe and the Far East. In 2016/17, Q8Oils with about 3,600 employees achieved a turnover of USD9,292 million with a total sales of 421,000 barrels per day. Q8 (pronounced [kju:]-eight, or Kuwait) lubrication products are refined only from Kuwait crude oil and formulated and manufactured in four oil factories. 

Projects
In April 2017, KPI and Oman Oil Company signed an agreement to build a refinery worth around USD7 billion in the sultanate's southern port town of Duqm. The 50-50 joint venture will have a capacity of 230,000 barrels per day when completed in 2019.
In May 2016, Q8Oils has officially opened its blending plant in Antwerp, Belgium, with a blending capacity of up to 250 million litres per annum. According to its operator, the plant can produce the widest range of finished lubricant products of any blending plant in Europe.

Outlook
Kuwait Petroleum International is one of several joint venture partners who will operate the Nghi Son Refinery in Vietnam whose commercial start-up is expected in Q1/2018. The plant is Vietnam’s second refinery and will process Kuwaiti crude oil to produce liquefied petroleum gases, gasoline, diesel, kerosene and jet fuel, mainly for the domestic markets.
https://www.reuters.com/article/vietnam-refinery/update-1-start-up-of-vietnams-nghi-son-oil-refinery-delayed-to-2018-idUSL4N1IH223

Company presentation/annual report
http://www.q8.com/Lists/Q8Magazine/Attachments/21/corporate_brochure_2017.pdf

Sources
http://soliris.lt/en/q8-oils/q8-oils-veikla/
https://www.q8oils.com/
https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=10852193
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait_Petroleum_International

---------------------------

Latest trends – Market research reports about lubricants

Global Lubricants Market - Procurement Research Report 
Oct 2017

Global Lubricant Viscosity Grade Improvers Market 2017-2021 
Oct 2017
Plunger Lubricant Market Growth Analysis, Opportunities Forecasts Report till 2022
Oct 2017
Synthetic Lubricants Market Status and Business Outlook 2017 to 2022
Sep 2017
Bio-lubricants Industry- Global Market Analysis Report 2017 
Sep 2017
Lubricants & Oils Market Research Reports & Industry Analysis
Sep 2017
Global Lubricants: Market Analysis and Assessment Forecasts to 2021 and 2026
Sep 2017
Lubricant in Global Market 2017- by Base Stock, Key Vendors, Drivers, Challenges, Strategies, Trends, Geography, Applications and Forecast to 2022
Sep 2017
Global Synthetic Lubricants Market 2017-2021 
Sep 2017
Automatic Lubrication Systems Market 2017: Overview, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Opportunities to 2021
Sep 2017
Global Forging Lubricants Sales Market Report 2017
Sep 2017
Lubricants Packaging Market 2017 Global Analysis By key Players. Forecast to 2022
Aug 2017
Lubricants Market - Global Analysis of Growth, Trends and Forecast (2017-2022)
July 2017
Automotive Lubricants Market Analysis By Product (Engine Oil, Gear Oil, Transmission Fluids, Brake Fluids, Coolants and Greases), Competitive Insights, Strategic Framework, And Segment Forecasts, 2014 – 2025
July 2017
Global Industrial Lubricant Market
July 2017
Global Forging Lubricants Sales Market Report 2017
July 2017
Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market Trends & Forecast to 2022- Industry Analysis by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application
July 2017
Lubricant Oil Manufacturing in the US
May 2017
Global Lubricant Additives Market Report 2017-2025 – Size, Trends,
Share, Growth and Forecast
Apr 2017
Lubricants Industry 2017
Several studies
Lubricants, other studies
-----

Previous issues of the column: Looking at the spring industry: Wafios, Scherdel, Kern-Liebers >>
Looking at the automotive market: Bosch, Delphi, Faurecia >>
Looking at the markets: Borealis, DuPont, PolyOne >>
Looking at the markets: Benteler, Vallourec, Webco Industries >>
Looking at the markets: Bossard, Norma Group, SFS >>
Looking at the markets: Bekaert, Salzgitter, Voestalpine >>
Looking at the markets: Aurubis, Huber+Suhner, Leoni >>
The information has been compiled by Dipl.-Ing. Konrad Dengler, a technical journalist specialised in industrial activities.
---------------------

You might also be interested in reading: Bar, wire & tube drawing: international workshop >>
Why stainless steel prices are rising >>
Automotive aluminum is entering its most unprecedented growth phase >>