SK Lubricants Co., the world’s largest producer of Group III base oils by sales, has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with FC Barcelona in its latest move to boost brand awareness of its finished lubricant brand SK ZIC.

The deal, which began in July, will enable SK Lubricants to use the logo of one of the world’s most popular football clubs and images of its players in all areas related to SK ZIC in South Korea, China, Russia, Vietnam and Thailand.

SK Lubricants, which is wholly owned by South Korea’s top oil refiner SK Innovation Co., became the first South Korean corporate sponsor of FC Barcelona since the football club’s foundation in 1899.

“We plan to increase SK ZIC’s brand recognition and global sales through the sponsorship,” SK Lubricants said in a statement.

China and Southeast Asia are growing lubricant markets that need more than 85 million barrels of lubricants a year.

FC Barcelona also welcomed the sponsorship deal.

“We believe the agreement will create synergy effects for both sides’ global marketing efforts. We also hope the deal paves the way for more remarkable Korean companies to become sponsors of FC Barcelona,” FC Barcelona said in comments provided by SK Lubricants.