Dubai, February 24, 2015

Global energy group Total will blend and market an original brand of oil products targeting the construction machinery sector across the Middle East.

Under the agreement signed between Total Marketing Middle East (TMME) and Hitachi Construction Machinery Middle East Corp FZE, Total will manufacture a suite of Hitachi-branded 'genuine oil' products at its dedicated blending facility in Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone.

The products will cater to the maintenance requirements of Hitachi's extensive fleet of construction vehicles and machinery sold across the region, including transmission, engine and hydraulic system maintenance, and greasing.

"This exciting partnership with Hitachi Construction Machinery in the Middle East builds on our global relationship with the company and further leverages the UAE's competitive strengths as a manufacturing and export hub," said Mr David Kalife, Managing Director of TMME.

"Thanks to our advanced lubricants blending facility in Dubai and substantial marketing presence across the region, Total is in a unique position to serve the needs of Hitachi's diverse customer-base in the Middle East."

"Through this agreement we aim to further enhance the quality and service experience of our valued customers, through a product tailored specifically for their needs by a trusted industry partner with a wide and long-standing presence in the region," said Mr Hidefumi Sameshima, President of Hitachi Construction Machinery Middle East.

"That these products will bear the Hitachi name is our endorsement of their quality."

Hitachi Group was founded in Japan in 1910. The group's construction machinery division accounted for roughly 7% of total worldwide sales of more than US$7.5 billion in 2013, ranking it third among the world's top construction machinery businesses.

Hitachi Construction Machinery manufactures a large fleet of heavy duty trucks and building site hardware, including excavators, dump trucks, cranes, compaction equipment, and loaders.

Its sales and services business spans six continents, and the company has operated a base in Jebel Ali Free Zone since 2011, serving the Middle East & North Africa and Turkey.

Total Marketing Middle East, a wholly owned subsidiary of Total Group headquartered in Dubai, will sell the Hitachi-branded products to Hitachi dealers and exclusive customers in the GCC countries, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia and Iraq.

Total estimates that consumption of the portfolio's engine, gear and hydraulic oils - three important categories of the Hitachi range - will exceed 500,000 litres per annum.

Supply of the new products will start in April.

-Ends-

About Total Marketing Middle East
Total Marketing Middle East is a wholly owned subsidiary of Total Group, with operations serving the Gulf countries, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Based in Dubai, the company is involved in the manufacturing and marketing of the entire range of automotive and industrial lubricants, greases, aviation fuels, special fuels and special additives to clean and enhance the performance of engines.

For more information, please contact:
Brian O'Neill
Middle East & North Africa Communications Director
Total
Email: brian.oneill.@total.com
Tel: +971 4 7095015

© Press Release 2015