Mark Townsend

MarkTownsend@lng.com

Recent Articles

Last Word

Last Word

Mark Townsend sounds a warning for the future of Irans base oil trade.

U.S. Pull-out Clouds Outlook for Iranian Oils

U.S. Pull-out Clouds Outlook for Iranian Oils

Shipments of API Group I base oils from Iran face disruption following United States President Donald Trumps decision to …

Adnoc Seeks Approvals for Base Oils

Adnoc Seeks Approvals for Base Oils

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. expects to complete formulation approvals for ADbase, a range of API Group II and Group III b …

Marine Lubes Market Under Pressure

Marine Lubes Market Under Pressure

Chinas Belt and Road Initiative is set to disrupt the 2.3 million metric ton global marine lubricants market as investme …

GP Buys Stake in Mag

GP Buys Stake in Mag

GP Global has acquired a majority stake in United Arab Emirates based Mag Lube in a deal that values the company at clos …

Last Word

Last Word

Mark Townsend looks at harmonizing Middle East standards.

Do Lube Blenders Dream of Electric Cars?

Do Lube Blenders Dream of Electric Cars?

The electric vehicle revolution is close to a tipping point. In the balance is the future of the global finished lubric …

Adnoc Distribution IPO to Support Lubes Brand

Adnoc Distribution IPO to Support Lubes Brand

Adnoc Distribution raised 3.1 billion dirham (U.S. $851 million) from an initial public offering that closed last week. …

CPEC Project to Propel Pakistan

CPEC Project to Propel Pakistan

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is set to overhaul Pakistans infrastructure and strengthen its economy, whic …

Middle East Group I Prices Hang Tough

Middle East Group I Prices Hang Tough

Prices for API Group I base oils from the Middle East have proved surprisingly resilient despite U.S. President Donald T …

New Diesel Technologies Will Impact Middle East Lube Market

New Diesel Technologies Will Impact Middle East Lube Market

Emission regulations are changing, and the emphasis is on controlling greenhouse gases. The emphasis on reducing emissio …

Last Word

Last Word

Mark Townsend indicates the direction Saudi Arabia will be heading after it lifted the ban on women drivers.

Bapco to Market Under New Neste Pact

Bapco to Market Under New Neste Pact

Neste and Bapco have entered a new commercial agreement enabling the Bahraini refiner to begin marketing base oils while …

Saudi Arabia to End Driving Ban on Women

Saudi Arabia to End Driving Ban on Women

Last month Saudi Arabia lifted its longstanding ban on women drivers, fuelling speculation the landmark decision will tr …

Group II Makes Inroads in Trunk Piston Oils

Group II Makes Inroads in Trunk Piston Oils

The marine lubricants sector has historically been an API Group I market, where small gains in performance take a back s …

Last Word

Last Word

And regular contributor Mark Townsend takes in the sea air and discusses the future sulfur cap for marine fuels.

Adnoc Distribution Considers Listing

Adnoc Distribution Considers Listing

Abu Dhabis Adnoc Distribution, which markets finished lubricants under the Voyager brand, could offer stock worth more t …

Middle East Bucks Global Downturn

Middle East Bucks Global Downturn

Volatile crude oil prices continue to undermine the outlook for base oils and finished lubricants, but local markets in …