Fuchs Petrolub SE, the German lubricants manufacturer, is investing more than 220 million Brazilian real (U.S.$39 million) to construct a blending facility in Sorocaba, according to media reports. The company believes the project will helbe a springboard to expand across Latin America and double its share of the Brazilian market.
Initial activities at the site, such as labelling and filling lines, are scheduled to begin in 2025. Full-scale operations are expected by 2030. The facility will eventually produce more than 50,000 tonnes of lubricants annually. Fuchs’ local portfolio currently includes more than 700 products.
The new plant will occupy 89,000 square meter plot, with a built area exceeding 19,500 square meters. A tank farm with a 3,600-cubic-meter storage capacity will support operations. Once complete, the facility will be five times larger than FUCHS’ current site in Barueri and serve as a logistics and production center for Brazil and the broader region.
“This facility strengthens our strategy to expand in key sectors such as food processing, agriculture and mining,” said Antonio Oliveira, general manager of Fuchs Lubrificantes do Brasil. “Brazil is increasingly demanding high-performance lubricants and we are committed to providing efficient, safe and sustainable solutions.”
The Sorocaba location is about 90 kilometers from São Paulo. It offers logistical advantages over Barueri, which is closer to the city center but limited in space and scalability. Proximity to major transport routes and clients has already improved delivery times, with 67% of orders in 2024 fulfilled within a day since the distribution center relocated there in 2022.
Earlier this year, Fuchs opened a blending plant in South Africa and in Vietnam in 2023.