Petronas’ lube deal to deepen ties with Proton

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Proton Holdings Bhd have taken their two-decade lubricant business ties beyond the buyer-seller arrangement. Malaysia’s two national companies have sealed an exclusive 10-year deal that leads to a more integrated supply, technical and commercial collaboration. Under the pact, Petronas, through Petronas Lubricants International Sdn Bhd (PLI), will be the exclusive partner for all Proton’s domestic and global lubricants and functional fluids needs. In return, PLI will get a more direct route-to-market for its lubricants, through Proton’s extensive sales and service network. Proton Managing Director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said it now uses and sells some 1.4 million liters of lubricants per year. The ties may help boost the volume to 2 million liters per year over the next few years. (January 20, 2010)