Costco and Walmart Limit Motor Oil Sales as Base Oil Prices Hit Record

U.S. retail giants Costco and Walmart have imposed purchase limits on motor oil as the country faces a severe shortage of lubricants and record-high prices. The crisis stems from a critical depletion of strategic reserves and production failures in the petrochemical sector, threatening the maintenance of both private and commercial vehicle fleets. At Costco, a 9.4-liter pack of synthetic motor oil now costs $57.99, with a strict limit of one unit per customer. Walmart reports similar inventory shortages across popular lubricant brands. Financial analyst Nikita Volkov tells Pravda. Ru that these rationing measures are necessary to prevent speculative buying as raw material costs are passed directly to consumers. The price of base oils, the primary component for synthetic lubricants, has outpaced the rise in crude oil and gasoline costs. According to Argus Media, the price per gallon of base oil in the U. S. reached a record $12.45. This spike reflects a broader structural shift where global demand exceeds available supply.