Shell seeks to expand lubricants market share in eastern Indonesia

PT Shell Indonesia, which late last year began operating its 120 million-liter per year capacity lubricants production facility in Marunda, North Jakarta, is seeking to expand market share in the eastern part of Indonesia, Kontan reported on Tuesday.

The paper quoted company Director of Lubricants Dian Andyasuri as saying that with the massive economic development activities in the region, demand for lubricants is projected to increase.

Dian said that the company was particularly looking to increase sales to the industry consumerssuch as cement makers and power plant companies in the region including Kalimantan, Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku and Papua.

She said that while looking to expand sales to industry consumers, the company will also continue to expand sales in the retail market segment, the largest contributor to the company?s total sales. She pointed out that with 13 million cars and 99 million motorcycles, data per last year, the country?s retail market segment is quite huge.

The industry consumers segment last year accounted for only about 14 percent of Shell Indonesia?s total sales, while the bulk was contributed by the retail market segment.

Dian said that sales this year is estimated to grow by 3-5 percent, in line with industry growth. (*)