Why AMSOIL Prices Are Going Up — And What's Behind It
If you've noticed AMSOIL prices ticking up lately, you're not imagining that either. There's a real reason for it, and it's bigger than just one company making a business decision.
Here's what's actually going on.
It starts in the Middle East
Conflict in Iran has been disrupting global supply chains since last year, and the lubricants industry is getting hit hard. Base oils, chemical additives, packaging, and freight — basically everything that goes into making and delivering a bottle of oil — have all seen rapid cost increases. And it's not just AMSOIL. Exxon Mobil announced a 16% increase to commercial accounts. Castrol, Shell, and Chevron have each announced increases up to 15%. Major auto parts retailers bumped synthetic motor oil prices by $1 per quart as of early April.
This is an industry-wide event.
What AMSOIL is doing about it
Rather than quietly rolling price increases into their base pricing, AMSOIL implemented a temporary surcharge. The surcharge varies by product type and is designed only to recover the increased costs they're absorbing — not to pad margins. Here's how it breaks down:
Commercial-Grade & Synthetic Blend Oils: $0.87/quart
All Other Oils: $0.93/quart
Aerosols, Antifreeze/Coolant, Grease: 10%
Fuel Additives: 16%
Filters: 0%
That last line is worth noting. Filters are the one category not carrying a surcharge right now — which is relevant timing given the filter availability situation we covered in our last post.
AMSOIL has also been clear that they will not cut corners on quality to manage costs. The surcharge will be adjusted or removed as supply chain conditions normalize.
How long will this last?
That's the harder question. Even with encouraging signs that the conflict may be easing, experts expect it could take six to twelve months after conditions stabilize for raw material supply to catch up with demand. Broader shortages could persist into 2027 depending on the region and product type.
The short version: this isn't going away overnight, but it's being managed — and AMSOIL is being transparent about it, which is more than most companies are doing right now.
More on the supply chain story — including what the collapse of a major filter manufacturer means for the broader aftermarket industry — coming in the next post.