Boris Kamchev

BORIS@LUBESNGREASES.COM

Staff Writer - Boris is a staff writer focused on Eastern Europe, Russia and the ex-Soviet lubricant industry. Prior to joining Lubes’n’Greases in 2010, Boris was a Russia-based reporter for several Macedonian news outlets. He had a 16-month stint as a business reporter for The St. Petersburg Times and contributed analyses to an English-language outlet of RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency. Boris often travels to St. Petersburg, Washington, D.C. and Skopje. Recently, he has also begun a part-time engagement as a foreign correspondent for North Macedonia’s state news agency, MIA.

Recent Articles

Former Soviet States Increase Output

Former Soviet States Increase Output

Lubricant production in post-Soviet states has grown over the past three years, driven by Western sanctions against Russ …

Russian Finished Lubricant Market Flat

Russian Finished Lubricant Market Flat

Russia’s finished lubricant market held steady at around 1.8 million tons in 2024, as domestic producers focused on im …

Ukraine Conflict Goldmine for Russian Grease Business

Ukraine Conflict Goldmine for Russian Grease Business

Russia’s domestic grease market is still lucrative despite sanctions and escalating raw materials costs.

Gazprom Opens White Oils Plant

Gazprom Opens White Oils Plant

Gazpromneft-Lubricants starts white oils production in Russia.

Poland Market Shrank Again in 2024

Poland Market Shrank Again in 2024

Poland’s lubricants market contracted in 2024 for a third consecutive year, despite broader signs of economic recovery …

Survey: Russian Drain Intervals Drop

Survey: Russian Drain Intervals Drop

A recent survey in Russia indicates motorists are reducing the intervals at which they replace their passenger car engin …

Dumping Claims May Trigger U.K. Tariffs

Dumping Claims May Trigger U.K. Tariffs

Authorities in the United Kingdom are mulling the imposition of import tariffs on certain engine oils and hydraulic flui …

U.K. Launches Dumping Investigation

U.K. Launches Dumping Investigation

The United Kingdom’s British Trade Remedy Authority has initiated an investigation into alleged dumping of low-priced …

Russian New Car Sales Rebound

Russian New Car Sales Rebound

Russian new passenger car sales surged to 617,000 units in the first five months of 2024, marking an 81% rebound from sl …

Saneg Targets Group I to Europe

Saneg Targets Group I to Europe

Uzbekistan’s Saneg said it aims to increase its base oil sales by directly targeting the European market, asserting it …

Eurolube Acquires Bizol

Eurolube Acquires Bizol

German lubricant maker Eurolub GmbH said it has acquired Bizol, another German lube marketer, to expand its automotive s …

Kluber Expands India Lubes Plant

Kluber Expands India Lubes Plant

Kluber Lubrication announced it will expand its factory in Mysore, India, to increase the amount of specialty lubricants …

Industrial Projects to Build Lube Plant in Russia

Industrial Projects to Build Lube Plant in Russia

Russian company Industrial Projects expressed intentions last week to build a lubricant blending plant in the Rostov obl …

Caspian to Build Rerefinery Near Baku

Caspian to Build Rerefinery Near Baku

Bulgaria’s Caspian Lubricants Recycling announced plans to invest in a new base oil rerefinery near Baku, Azerbaijan, …

EU Alleges Lube Smuggling in Italy

EU Alleges Lube Smuggling in Italy

The European Union’s public prosecution office last week announced an investigation, dubbed “Greasy Hands,” into a …

Drone Damages Volgograd Refinery

Drone Damages Volgograd Refinery

Lukoil’s refinery in Volgograd, Russia, was struck again Sunday by a drone attack that caused a fire and reportedly da …

Safety-Kleen Acquires Noble Oil

Safety-Kleen Acquires Noble Oil

Safety-Kleen Systems acquired Noble Oil Recycling, which collects used oil in the Eastern United States and has a North …

Lukoil Lube, Base Oil Production Falls

Lukoil Lube, Base Oil Production Falls

Lukoil’s base oil and finished lubricant production both fell significantly in 2023, impacted by  a decline in marine …