Why Oils and Greases Are Getting Harder to Source, And What Plant Hire Businesses Can Do About It
By Travis Knappett, Kompo® Oil & Grease Specialist at HTS Spares.
The world's oil markets are under serious pressure right now, and the effects are being felt right across the construction and plant hire industries, including in something as fundamental as the lubricants that keep your machinery running.
Here's what's happening, and what it means for you.
The Global Situation
Following military strikes on Iran at the end of February 2026, tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which around 20% of the world's daily oil supply passes, effectively ground to a halt. Brent crude prices surged to $126 per barrel at their peak, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) described the situation as "the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market."
The IEA responded by releasing 400 million barrels from emergency reserves (the biggest coordinated release in its history!) but acknowledged this is a stop-gap, not a solution. (IEA, March 2026)
Closer to home, industry experts have warned that UK construction businesses face compounding cost pressures as a result. As one analyst explained: "This is not a contained issue, it feeds directly into energy prices, material costs, programme delays, and ultimately whether projects remain commercially viable."
Why This Hits Lubricants Specifically
Oils and greases are made from base oil, which is refined from crude oil. When crude prices spike or supply tightens, the cost of base oil rises with it, and that flows directly through to the engine oils, hydraulic fluids, EP greases, and gear oils your plant depends on.
This isn't new. The UK lubricants market saw base oil availability drop by 25% in 2022 and a further 30% in 2023 following pandemic shutdowns and the ban on Russian crude imports. The current disruption is larger in scale than either of those events.
Add rising shipping costs and war risk insurance premiums to the mix, and lubricant prices are under real upward pressure in 2026.
What You Should Do Now
- Don't wait until you run out. If critical lubricants are part of your planned maintenance schedule, order ahead rather than on demand.
- Work with a supplier you can rely on. In uncertain times, your supplier relationship matters more than ever.
- Don't substitute without checking. Using the wrong specification, especially in hydraulic systems, can cause serious equipment damage. If you're unsure, ask us.
HTS Spares: Stocked and Ready to Help
At HTS Spares, we supply a full range of oils, greases, and lubricants for plant hire and construction equipment, and we work hard to maintain stock availability even when supply chains are under pressure.
We currently have a special offer on Brown, Red and Blue EP2 Grease - one of the most widely used greases across the construction and plant hire sectors, suitable for heavy-duty pivot points, bearings, and general chassis lubrication. Additional stock is due to arrive in April, so now is a great time to top up your supplies at a competitive price.
Browse our lubricants range or get in touch with the team - we're here to help you keep your fleet moving, whatever the world throws at it.
