Shell and Hyundai Motor strengthen 20-year partnership with renewed global cooperation agreement

Shell Lubricants (“Shell”) and Hyundai Motor Company have announced a five-year renewal to their global partnership, reinforcing a shared commitment to delivering performance, innovation and value.

The agreement marks the fifth renewal since the companies began working together in 2005, and reflects a long-standing partnership built on collaboration across product development, motorsport engineering and aftersales solutions.

Building on two decades of shared success, the renewed five-year agreement means that Shell maintains its position as Hyundai Motor’s recommended supplier of aftersales lubricants globally. Shell and Hyundai Motor will continue to work together to develop advanced lubricant technologies and support high-performance vehicle programmes.

Additionally, the companies plan to expand collaboration on service marketing programmes designed to strengthen customer satisfaction and reinforce their leading position in key aftersales markets.

As the world’s leading supplier of finished lubricants for 19 consecutive years, Shell will supply premium Shell Helix engine oil products to Hyundai Motor customers around the world.

“For more than two decades, Shell and Hyundai Motor have partnered to deliver innovation, performance, and customer value globally. Together, we have advanced lubricant technology, supported Hyundai Motor’s mobility ambitions, and translated learnings from motorsport into real-world benefits.

As we look ahead, we are expanding our collaboration in next-generation e-fluids, thermal management, digital innovation, and high-performance mobility. By combining our expertise we will continue to develop solutions that enhance performance, efficiency, and sustainability for Hyundai Motor and our customers worldwide.”

Lee Ming Seow — Vice President, Global Key Accounts and New Business Development, Shell Lubricants

“We are pleased to extend Hyundai Motor’s long-standing partnership with Shell. Through our collaborative aftersales service marketing initiatives over the past years, we have successfully enhanced our global aftersales service competitiveness and improved customer satisfaction by delivering Shell’s premium quality engine oils to Hyundai customers worldwide. Together, we will be better positioned to respond proactively to changes in the future mobility market while continuing to create greater value for our customers and strengthen our long-term global competitiveness.”

Beom Seok Kang — Senior Vice President and Head of Global Service Sub-Division, Hyundai Motor Company

The partnership continues to evolve beyond the aftersales market. Shell recently expanded its collaboration with Genesis, Hyundai Motor Group’s luxury brand, and will serve as the Performance and Innovation Partner to Genesis Magma Racing in its 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship debut.

Shell has also been the official sponsor of the Hyundai Shell MOBIS World Rally Team since 2014. The programme provides a platform for testing and developing technologies in some of the world’s most demanding racing conditions, with learnings helping to develop lubricant innovation for Hyundai Motor customers globally.

The partnership has also extended into the Hyundai N Division to co-engineer lubricants designed for high-performance engines and electric vehicles, offering Shell both a testbed for developing cutting-edge products and a global platform to showcase its solutions to a community of performance-driven customers.

The renewed agreement represents the next chapter in a partnership that has evolved alongside the automotive industry for more than two decades. Together, Shell and Hyundai Motor will continue to explore opportunities to advance lubricant technology, support future mobility ambitions and deliver value to customers worldwide.

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07/09/202607/13/2026

Shell PANOLIN Biodegradable Lubricants

Industry Guide · Biodegradable Lubricants

Shell PANOLIN Biodegradable Lubricants — Trusted Across the Baltics

Why biodegradable lubricants matter for construction, forestry, agriculture and mining — and how Shell PANOLIN, your local source through Jungent, delivers unrivalled protection for your equipment and the environment you’re working in.

More Industry. Less Impact.

Jungent is your local source for Shell PANOLIN in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania — Shell’s dedicated range of high-performance biodegradable lubricants, already trusted by industries across the Baltics. Built on more than 40 years of ECL (Environmentally Considerate Lubricant) expertise, Shell PANOLIN helps contractors, forestry operators, farmers and mining operators safeguard the ecosystems they work in — without compromising on equipment protection.

What makes a lubricant truly biodegradable?

Under the OECD 301B test, a lubricant that degrades by more than 60% within a 28-day window is classed as readily biodegradable; 20–60% is inherently biodegradable; below 20% is non-biodegradable. Every Shell PANOLIN lubricant meets the readily biodegradable threshold.

Grades carrying the EAL (Environmentally Acceptable Lubricant) name go further, meeting three criteria: readily biodegradable, low ecotoxicity (classified ‘not harmful’ per OECD/EPA water-accommodated-fraction guidelines) and non-bioaccumulative. All EAL grades hold the EU Ecolabel.

Built for your sector

Construction

Challenge: hydraulic and gear systems operating on sites near soil, groundwater and waterways, where a leak carries real environmental and reputational risk.

Shell PANOLIN solution: readily biodegradable, low-ecotoxicity hydraulic and gear fluids that resist dust and water contamination and protect against rust and corrosion.

Relevant range: S4 HLP Synth / EAL hydraulic, S4 Gear / EAL

Forestry

Challenge: harvesters and forwarders work directly within forests and near watercourses across Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian woodland, where any spill has an immediate ecological impact.

Shell PANOLIN solution: EAL/EU Ecolabel-certified hydraulic and gear fluids trusted by forestry operators for more than 40 years, with wide-temperature performance for Baltic winters.

Relevant range: S4 HLP Synth EAL, S3 HLP Synth EAL, S4 Gear EAL

Agriculture

Challenge: tractors and implements running intensively during spring and autumn fieldwork, directly on and above cultivated soil.

Shell PANOLIN solution: universal tractor transmission fluids (UTTO) with excellent wear protection and cold-flow characteristics for wet-brake final drives and hydraulics.

Relevant range: Biofluid PRS 32, Biofluid ZFH, Biofluid SBH-N

Mining

Challenge: extreme loads on wire ropes, hydraulics and gearing in remote, often environmentally sensitive sites.

Shell PANOLIN solution: fully synthetic wire rope fluid, EAL greases and hydraulic/gear fluids engineered for extended life, renewable content and robust load-bearing capability.

Relevant range: S4 Wire Rope EAL, S5 Grease EAL, S4 HLP Synth EAL

Excavator scooping dirt against a bright sky, using Shell PANOLIN biodegradable hydraulic fluid

Construction: protection where it matters most

A high viscosity index ensures reliable performance across a wide temperature range, while resistance to dust and water contamination extends equipment life on demanding sites.

Forestry harvester operating in a Baltic forest with Shell PANOLIN biodegradable lubricants

Forestry: decades of trust in the woods

Shell PANOLIN products have been trusted by forestry operators for more than 40 years — readily biodegradable and low-ecotoxicity by design, for use close to trees, soil and water.

Tractor working a field in spring, powered by Shell PANOLIN Biofluid UTTO transmission fluid

Agriculture: ready for spring and autumn fieldwork

Shell PANOLIN Biofluid ZFH offers excellent cold-flow characteristics, while good wear protection and air release help farm equipment perform through intensive seasonal use.

Mining equipment using Shell PANOLIN wire rope and hydraulic fluids in a remote site

Mining: engineered for extreme loads

Shell PANOLIN S4 Wire Rope EAL is fully synthetic with renewable content and extended life, while S5 Grease EAL delivers outstanding load-carrying capacity across a −40°C to 100°C operating range.

Product families at a glance

Shell PANOLIN S4 HLP Synth EAL 20L jerrycan

Hydraulic — S4 HLP Synth EAL

ISO VG 15–100. Saturated esters, EAL/VGP compliant, extended life. EU Ecolabel, US EPA VGP, Bosch Rexroth RDE 90245.

Gear oils — S4 Gear / EAL

ISO VG 68–320. High viscosity index, shear stability, micro-pitting protection. FZG load stage 12, ZF TE-ML 04M.

Shell PANOLIN drum, Swiss Oil Technology

UTTO — Biofluid range

PRS 32, ZFH, SBH-N. Universal tractor hydraulic fluid, wear protection, air release, cold-flow performance. ZF TE ML compliant.

Shell PANOLIN advanced biodegradable extreme pressure grease cartridge

Greases — S5 Grease EAL

A460, A600P. Calcium technology, water-washout resistance, −40°C to 100°C range. EU Ecolabel, US EPA VGP.

Certifications & approvals: EU Ecolabel · OECD 301B (readily biodegradable) · ISO 15380 HEES · US EPA VGP 2013 · USDA BioPreferred · EN 16807-2016 · Bosch Rexroth RDE 90245 · FM Approval (ISO 12922, fire-resistant).

Shell PANOLIN vs. conventional mineral oil

Key differentiator	Conventional mineral oil	Shell PANOLIN (EAL range)
Biodegradability (OECD 301B, 28 days)	Typically < 20% — non-biodegradable	> 60% — readily biodegradable
Ecotoxicity	Not typically classified	“Not harmful” (OECD 201/202/203/236)
Impact of leak or spillage	Higher environmental impact	Reduced impact vs. conventional mineral oils
Temperature range / cold start	Typical HM mineral oil performance	High VI for wide operating range; good cold-flow behaviour reduces metal-on-metal wear risk
Wear & pressure protection	Baseline HM/EP performance	Shear-stable, anti-scuffing, robust load-bearing (saturated ester grades)
Ecolabel / OEM approvals	Rarely certified	EU Ecolabel, ISO 15380 HEES, US EPA VGP, USDA BioPreferred, Bosch Rexroth RDE 90245, Eaton Vickers V104C

Why Shell PANOLIN

Performance

Saturated esters outperform unsaturated ester types — extending oil-drain intervals, reducing oil changes and helping to lower total cost of ownership.

Sustainability

Helps customers avoid, reduce and compensate the environmental impact of their operations compared with conventional mineral oils.

Support

Dedicated sales and technical teams, backed by Shell Lubricant Solutions’ global network, now paired with Jungent’s local Baltic presence.

Credibility

40+ years of biodegradable-lubricants expertise, 60+ products in the range, and leading OEM approvals including 3 Bosch Rexroth-approved grades.

Environmental credentials

> 60%

Biodegraded within 28 days under OECD 301B — the readily biodegradable threshold met by every Shell PANOLIN grade.

“Not harmful”

Ecotoxicity classification per OECD 201/202/203/236 water-accommodated-fraction test guidelines.

40+ years

Of biodegradable-lubricants expertise, trusted by customers in marine, forestry and other sectors.

Your Local Source for Shell PANOLIN in the Baltics

Authorised distributor for Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Direct supply, product selection support and technical consultation for construction, forestry, agriculture and mining operators.

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References & disclaimers: Shell PANOLIN lubricants are readily biodegradable per the OECD 301B carbon dioxide evolution test (> 60% degradation within 28 days) and are classified as having low ecotoxicity per OECD 201/202/203/236 and US EPA water-accommodated-fraction test guidelines, as defined by EU Ecolabel and adaptations such as EN 17181:2019. Actual effects and benefits may vary by grade and operating conditions; no guarantees are provided. Products bearing the EAL name hold the EU Ecolabel; certifications vary by grade — refer to the relevant product data sheet. Bosch Rexroth, Eaton Vickers, Komatsu and ZF are third-party trademarks referenced for approval purposes only. “More Industry. Less Impact.” is the Shell PANOLIN brand tagline. Source: Shell PANOLIN Family Brochure and Comprehensive Qualification materials, 2026. © Shell International B.V.

12/08/202212/08/2022

Shell leads global lubricants market for 16ᵗʰ year

Shell Lubricants retains its status as the leading global supplier of finished lubricants for a 16^th consecutive year, according to the 20^th edition of Kline & Company’s report Global Lubricants: Market Analysis and Assessment 2021.

The report covers all leading lubricant consuming country markets, market segments, product types and formulations. Shell retains the number one ranking for all three lubricants categories tracked by Kline – consumer automotive, commercial automotive and industrial.

Machteld de Haan, Global Executive Vice President Shell Lubricants, said: “Our continued leadership of the global lubricants and fluids sector reflects our success in growing our base business through a focus on higher value and premium products and differentiating products, whilst continuing to build unique commercial and technical relationships. We are now focused on transforming our business, from being the leading global lubricants supplier to be the leading lubricants and fluid solutions provider of tomorrow.”

Shell was one of the first to launch an E-fluids portfolio in 2019, demonstrating technological readiness and achieving early traction with OEMs. Today, Shell E-fluids improve the reliability, efficiency and performance of electric powertrains. The business is now focusing on new fluids and a broader set of fluid management solutions, extending into thermal management of batteries, data centres, clean power and life sciences.

Shell is also delivering more sustainable solutions, with Lubricants playing a critical role in supporting Shell’s target of becoming a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, and helping customers reduce their carbon footprint. For example, Shell Lubricants is reducing waste through the development of sustainable packaging and circular solutions, as well as delivering more sustainable solutions through its range of biodegradable products and solutions.

According to the latest report, Shell maintained its leading global market share relative to the year prior, with a slight increase in market share (0.6%) over the next largest IOC supplier, up to 11.6%, resulting in its number one ranking.

Shell’s total volume sold was approximately 4,500-4,700 kilotonnes of finished lubricants, equivalent to approximately 4.9-5.2 billion litres. These global sales were split between the three segments at a similar percentage split as the previous year: 36% industrial, 33% consumer automotive and 31% commercial automotive.

To find out more about Shell’s capabilities and leadership in lubricants, please see the infographic.

shell-named-number-one-global-lubricants-supplier-for-16th-year

Article referred from https://www.shell.com/business-customers/lubricants-for-business/news-and-media-releases/2022/shell-leads-global-lubricants-market-for-16th-year.html