关税导致添加剂市场转移

2018年8月17-19日，2018年度润滑油行业品牌营销学术论坛在中国西安建国饭店成功举办！新乡市瑞丰新材料股份有限公司副总经理马振方先生代表公司出席了此次论坛，并在《品牌对话》直播间接受了美国知名行业杂志LUBES’N’GREASES旗下Lube Report Asia记者王芳青的采访。

马总在采访中首先介绍了瑞丰新材海外市场情况：“公司目前海外销量占比整体销量的40%，产品远销海外30多个国家和地区，年销量呈30%的增长趋势。”在谈及中美贸易冲突带来的影响时，马总说道“在公司拓展海外业务的计划中，美国市场仍然重要，由于中美贸易冲突导致的关税和成本增加，我们可能需要放慢一点速度，将关注度放在新兴市场。”

关于润滑油添加剂市场的行业趋势，马总表示助力润滑油企业生产低排放高能效的产品是添加剂行业未来的发展趋势。此外，低灰低硫的环保型添加剂将成为未来的产品趋势，也是瑞丰新材的研发方向。目前公司研发人员已经引入三个台架：燃气发动机、柴油发动机和压缩天然气发动机，以协助添加剂的研发试验。公司为了更好的帮助客户提升产品竞争力，将在未来五年内新增十个台架以进行添加剂和润滑油实验。

Xinxiang Richful Lube Additive Co., a Chinese additives supplier, plans to focus more on emerging markets because of the U.S. government’s recent decision to raise tariffs on a range of Chinese imports, including lubricants and lube additives.

“We always wanted to explore more business opportunities overseas, and with the U.S.-China trade conflicts, we think it might be time for us to look into emerging markets,” said Ma Zhenfang, vice general manager at Richful. He added that the U.S. market is still important, “but with the tax hikes, we might want to slow down a little bit.”

The United States has imposed tariff increases of 25 percent on $50 billion of Chinese imports, covering hundreds of types of products, including lubricants and lubricant additives. China has retaliated with its own tariffs on imports of products from the United States.

Xinxiang, Henan province-based Richful already sells about 40 percent of its additives to over 30 foreign countries and regions. Its overseas sales grow around 30 percent each year.

However, the U.S.-China trade war forced Richful to make more than just changes in strategies. The company has to face rising costs.

“We buy a specific long-chain olefin from the U.S. to make alkyl phenate sulfides. The olefin is now being heavily taxed,” Ma said. China is currently not able to manufacture the olefin, which Richful believes is essential to make a highly stable detergent for engine oils.

Richful claims to be a long-term component supplier – especially of sulfonates, which can be used as detergents in lubricants – to multinational additives companies. It aims to get listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange as soon as in 2019, Ma said.

Asked about trends in the lubricant additive market, Ma not surprisingly said it follows the lubricant industry, which is being asked to help reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency.

“Additives with low ash and sulfur will be the future. This is also where our [research and development] is heading,” Ma said.

One way for Richful to enhance its research and development capability is by testing on engines. Its laboratory already has three engines – a gas engine, a diesel engine and a compressed natural gas engine – that allow researchers to test various additives. Richful plans to acquire 10 more engines in the next five years.

“The engines will be used to develop additives and lubes to help our clients stay competitive,” Ma said.