Nynas promotes naphthenic base oils as flexible complement to Group II

Nynas says naphthenic base oils can complement Group II, Group III and synthetic base stocks in lubricant formulations, letting formulators reduce the amount of Group II or PAO required while keeping performance. The company cites solvency, low-temperature properties and a wide viscosity range as key attributes. It also highlights its Northern European production base as offering proximity to European customers amid strained global supply chains.

Key facts

Market context

Naphthenic base oils are refined from naphthenic crude fractions and are valued in lubricants for their strong solvency, good low-temperature behavior and a broad viscosity range. They are widely used in industrial lubricant formulations, process oils, and specialty applications such as greases, rubber processing and metalworking fluids. Group II base oils, which are hydrotreated mineral oils, and Group III base oils dominate many automotive and industrial lubricant blends, while polyalphaolefins (PAO) are the main synthetic base stock used where extreme temperature performance is needed. Because Group II and PAO supply and pricing can be volatile, blenders often look for alternatives that keep formulation performance while easing cost or availability pressure. Shifts of this kind can change the mix of base oil demand among mineral, naphthenic and synthetic grades, with knock-on effects for refiners and lubricant manufacturers that depend on these streams.

Source: official release on nynas.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.