PETRONAS Lubricants International ( PLI ), the global fluids and lubricants arm of Malaysian energy giant PETRONAS, and US industrial process fluids maker Quaker Houghton have announced a strategic partnership to provide products, solutions and services for key industrial sectors in Malaysia and India.

Leveraging their respective product portfolios and geographic market positions, the two companies will provide an expanded range of industrial solutions for customers.

Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, PLI will be the exclusive distributor of Quaker Houghton's broad portfolio of world-class metalworking fluids to customers in the transportation and industrial end markets in Malaysia. In India, Quaker Houghton will offer PLI's range of high-performance maintenance lubricants and industrial fluids to its steel mill customers.

Domenico Ciaglia, PLI’s group chief strategy and transformation officer, comments: "PLI is committed to building long-term alliances that will provide greater product availability and service quality for our customers, thus strengthening our position as the partner of choice in global industrial lubricants.

“We believe that the team at Quaker Houghton shares our vision on being future-focused, and they are uniquely positioned to unlock opportunities with us, both in terms of reaching new markets and in being the partner we need to lead the industry into a new era of effective, sustainable service."

Jeewat Bijlani, Quaker Houghton's executive vice president, global specialty and chief growth officer, adds: "Asia is one of our key markets, and this partnership enables us to provide Quaker Houghton metalworking fluids to a greater number of customers. PETRONAS Lubricants International has the proven experience, reputation, and channels to support the customer requirements and expand our reach in Malaysia." 

Quaker Houghton was formed in 2019 through the merger of Quaker Chemical with Houghton International, a Gulf Oil company. The Hinduja Group of India is the largest shareholder through its Gulf Oil subsidiary.