Exovera’s new report, Chinese Lubricant Additive Supplier Richful Keeps Russia’s War Machine Running, details Russia’s growing dependence on the Chinese company Xinxiang Richful Lube Additive Co., Ltd., as a supplier of lubricant additives critical for military and civilian vehicles. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Western companies largely stopped supplying Russia with lubricant additives, and Richful stepped in as the primary provider, particularly to Gazpromneft Lubricants, which supplies the Russian military. This dependence on a Chinese supplier highlights a potential pressure point in Russia’s military supply chain, as any disruption in lubricant additive supply would impact its military operations and industrial economy.
Richful has seen rapid growth, benefiting from increased revenues, Chinese government support, and expanded research and development capabilities. The company is actively trying to reduce its dependency on Western suppliers while establishing subsidiaries in the United States and the Middle East.
