Alhamrani-Fuchs sees better prospects

Sales are gradually picking up for lubricants producer Alhamrani-Fuchs Petroleum Saudi Arabia’s plant after a dismal fourth quarter last year, the company said. Business was down by 30 to 35% compared with the previous quarter. The Jeddah-based company, whose Saudi plant is located in Yanbu, in western Saudi Arabia, also said it will go ahead with the opening of two new overseas production facilities in Jordan and Egypt. Last year, Alhamrani-Fuchs upgraded its warehouse and tank storage capacities. It built its third 3,400 square meter (sq m) warehouse, upping total warehouse storage to 10,000 sq m, and erected its fifth tank for a total tank storage capacity of 5,500 tons. The company has four overseas plants located in Syria, Tanzania, Morocco and Sudan, where it produces 60,000 tons per year of lubricants. The company’s auto service stations may also have helped improve the company’s prospects. Its stations offer services including oil change, tire change, wheel balancing and alignment and other minor services such as under-chassis mechanical work. Alhamrani-Fuchs is owned 68% by the Alhamrani Group and 32% by Germany-based Fuchs Petrolub AG. (June 1, 2009)