Brenntag and ExxonMobil Deepen White Oils Partnership Across EMEA
Brenntag, the global leader in chemicals and ingredients distribution, has announced a significant expansion of its long-standing distribution agreement with ExxonMobil for White Oils. This collaboration, which has flourished for decades in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), and the Baltics, now extends to Iberia, the Netherlands, and Israel. The move underlines a mutual commitment to bringing reliable, high-quality specialty products to an even broader base of industries and customers across the EMEA region.
A Legacy of Excellence in Distribution
Brenntag’s expertise in specialty product distribution is well established. Known for high standards in logistics, quality assurance, and customer service, Brenntag operates strategically located facilities—like the clean-room-enabled site in Hamburg—that ensure premium handling of chemical products. In partnership with ExxonMobil, Brenntag’s longstanding role as the preferred regional distributor of White Oils is a clear testament to the trust and reputation both companies have built together.
Geographic Expansion and Enhanced Reach
The new agreement extends ExxonMobil White Oils distribution from the core markets of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, CEE, and the Baltics to include:
- Iberia: Spain and Portugal
- The Netherlands
- Israel
This expansion enhances regional presence in vital industrial and consumer markets, enabling faster, more consistent product delivery and stronger customer relationships.
Premium Quality from Manufacturing to Distribution
ExxonMobil White Oils—such as Marcol™ and Primol™—are manufactured to meet rigorous European GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards. Upon arrival at Brenntag’s Hamburg site, these oils undergo handling in a meticulously controlled clean-room environment.
This protocol ensures:
- Exceptional purity – essential for applications in pharmaceuticals, beauty care, and food-grade uses
- Secure-grade integrity – critical for nutritional, agritech, and industrial domains
- Reliable supply – driven by managed warehousing practices and swift logistics
The clean-room approach protects product quality during bulk handling and filling, keeping contaminants at bay and upholding specifications expected of high-value specialty oils.
Diverse Applications Across Industries
White Oils are prized for their chemical inertness, thermal stability, clarity, and versatility. ExxonMobil’s product line supports a wide range of markets:
1. Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
- Marcol™ and Primol™ are primary choices for topical ointments and creams, valued for their gentle, hypoallergenic properties.
- In pediatric applications, small doses function as safe lubricants or laxatives.
- Regulatory compliance includes: European Pharmacopoeia, United States Pharmacopeia, FDA’s 21 CFR 178.3620(a), NSF H1, and EU Directive 10/2011.
- This makes them ideal for medical and health-related formulations.
2. Beauty and Personal Care
- Used in lotions, creams, baby oils, and other personal care items for their moisturizing, non-greasy texture, blending characteristics, and barrier function.
- They provide a silky feel and give stability to emollient systems.
3. Agriculture & Animal Health
- Serve as pesticide carriers, helping deliver agents to foliage for protection against insects and mites.
- In veterinary vaccines, they act as adjuvants, enhancing immune response to improve efficacy.
4. Polystyrene & Materials Science
- Incorporated in polystyrene foam for insulation, packaging, and consumer goods, contributing to lightweight, durable, moisture-resistant end products.
5. Lubrication in Machinery and Food Processing
- Employed in food-grade lubrication systems for packaging lines, conveyors, and processing equipment, where compliance with food contact standards is vital.
6. Logistics and Consumables
- White Oils act as rust preventives during metal part storage and transport.
- Used as carriers for flavors, fragrances, or active ingredients in industrial and consumer products.
Voices from the Partnership
Joakim Rehné, Regional President Pharma EMEA at Brenntag, said:
“The long‑lasting and trustful cooperation with ExxonMobil on White Oils across all parts of our Specialties portfolio shows Brenntag’s unique position to market and distribute high‑quality products reliably, timely and on competitive terms to a broad base of customers across EMEA. We are proud of our long‑standing relationship with ExxonMobil, built on trust, and we continue to strive for excellence as their branded distributor for an even larger group of countries.”
Sinem Sanli, EAME Specialties Sales Manager at ExxonMobil, added:
“Our continued relationship with Brenntag, and the expansion into more countries will help enable customers to have even better access to the white oils that they need for various applications across industries. ExxonMobil is committed to supporting the reliability and high product quality of white oils that is valued by customers. This agreement plays an important role in helping improve accessibility to a wide range of customers through the strong distribution network from Brenntag.“
Strategic Benefits and Customer Advantages
Several key advantages for both companies—and their customers—emerge from this joint venture:
- Broader Market Access: Gains in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Israel extend reach to high-growth industrial, pharmaceutical, and consumer sectors.
- End-to-End Quality Control: From GMP manufacturing to clean-room distribution, product integrity is assured throughout the supply chain.
- Optimized Customer Experience: Shortened lead times and region-wide availability ensure businesses can meet production and product launch schedules.
- Strong Regulatory Support: Compliance with global pharma, food, and industrial standards helps customers meet the most stringent labeling and safety requirements.
- Technology and Innovation Synergy: Brenntag’s support in technical services and supply chain solutions is complemented by ExxonMobil’s continuous product R&D.
Market Trends and Industrial Context
The timing of this distribution agreement aligns with global industrial and consumer trends:
- Rising demand in personal care: Growth in skincare and baby-care markets, particularly in Europe and the MENA region, increases need for safe, high-quality ingredients.
- Agricultural resilience: Sustainable pest control methods and improved veterinary vaccines drive demand for reliable adjuvants and carriers.
- Pharma supply chain reliability: Circling back to the post-COVID environment, healthcare systems now emphasize secure sourcing and regulatory compliance—strengthened by Brenntag’s standards and ExxonMobil’s product pedigree.
- Industrial and polystyrene growth: Infrastructure, packaging, and materials science trends continue to fuel demand for engineered synthetics.
The Global Landscape: Why White Oils Matter
White Mineral Oils—also known as paraffin oils—appear in nearly every industry:
- Pharmaceutical grade: For use in ointments, creams, medicinal syrups, and pharmaceutical lubricants.
- Food-grade: In select applications like food packaging lubricants.
- Industrial-grade: Used as hydraulic and lubricating fluids, able to withstand extreme temperatures and resist oxidation.
- Personal care: Essential as emollients and moisturizers with globally recognized safety profiles.
Their versatility stems from:
- Low toxicity
- Thermal stability
- Clinical and regulatory acceptance
- Cost-effectiveness compared to specialty synthetic oils
Future Growth and Collaboration Outlook
With operations now spanning nearly a dozen EMEA regions, the expanded agreement sets the stage for deeper cooperation:
- Enhanced technical education: Brenntag may increase training and support for formulators, labs, and production facilities.
- Supply chain digitization: Integration of tracking systems and cloud-based order management could further shorten delivery cycles and provide real-time status updates.
- Joint innovation programs: Co-development efforts may explore specialty blends, custom viscosity products, or sustainable sourcing synergies.
This partnership also positions both companies to pursue emerging regulatory trends—such as Ecosafety labeling, EU REACH protocols, and antimicrobial or biodegradable formulations—while meeting sustainability goals and market demands.
A Strategic Alliance for Growth
The extension of the distribution agreement between ExxonMobil and Brenntag Specialties underscores a shared commitment to serving the needs of diverse, high-growth industries with reliable, compliant, and high-quality White Oils. With enhanced geographic reach, strengthened distribution infrastructure, and mutual R&D ambitions, both partners are well positioned to capture evolving demand in pharmaceuticals, personal care, agriculture, materials science, food processing, and more.
In turn, customers across EMEA stand to benefit from shorter lead times, improved formulation support, and continued access to excellence in chemistry and supply chain performance. As their strategic alliance enters a new phase, Brenntag and ExxonMobil reaffirm their leading roles in the specialty chemicals ecosystem—building trust with each shipment, formulation, and innovation to come.
