Built for the Long Haul: Lubricant innovation in America’s ageing export fleet
Across the Americas, two major trends are defining the lubricant landscape:
The growing focus on cost-optimized blending for export markets.
The sustained use of older vehicles in Latin America, where affordability and engine durability matter most.
Together, these dynamics create a unique challenge—and opportunity—for U.S. and regional lubricant blenders: how to deliver high-performance, market-relevant engine oils that meet the needs of drivers far beyond North America’s EPA regulations.
At SBZ Corporation, this is exactly where we operate. Our additive packages are designed not for showroom-fresh EVs, but for the hardworking combustion engines powering the backbone of mobility across Latin America and beyond.
A Region of Ageing Vehicles and Diverse Needs
Latin America, with countries like Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Peru, features some of the oldest car fleets in the western hemisphere—often 12 to 20+ years on average. Many vehicles operate in tropical, mountainous, or high-dust environments, further stressing engines that already face wear from age, inconsistent servicing, and varying fuel qualities.
These conditions demand oils that offer:
Superior wear and deposit control
Extended oil life under severe service
Protection in wide temperature ranges
High TBN retention for areas with variable fuel sulphur content
At the same time, local consumers are price conscious. For blenders, the challenge is clear: how do you deliver real performance at a commercially viable cost?
Export Blenders: A Growing Segment in the U.S.
ILMA members and independent blenders in the U.S. are increasingly targeting emerging markets in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, where lubricant demand is growing but OEM service restrictions are less rigid. In fact, according to MarketsandMarkets, the global lubricants market is set to reach over $182 billion by 2028, with Latin America contributing significantly to aftermarket growth.
This is where SBZ comes in.
We provide additive technologies tailored for international formulations—striking a balance between affordability, specification compliance, and real-world engine protection.
SBZ’s Approach: Formulating for Export Success
SBZ’s product development is rooted in flexibility. Our additive packages support:
Legacy API categories (e.g., SL, SM, SN) still widely used across Latin America
High-performance monograde and multigrade oils, popular in tropical and rural regions
Detergency and dispersancy tuning for harsh operating environments
Packages designed for Group I/II base oils, widely used in regional blending
Our goal is to empower blenders with robust formulations that ship well, perform under stress, and meet cost constraints—helping them win in export markets where reliability beats spec sheet perfection.
A Message to Independent Blenders: The Time is Now
While much of the industry focuses on North America’s slow EV ramp-up and declining ICE car parc, the export market remains underappreciated. Yet millions of combustion vehicles across Latin America—and other global regions—are still in service and need high-quality engine oils to stay on the road.
For independent lubricant manufacturers, this is not a niche—it’s a growth market. And with the right additive partner, you can lead it.