Base oil production in Brazil fell 4% in 2025 but was still the country’s second-highest total since the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in 2020. Domestic refineries produced 532,000 metric tons of virgin base oil last year, down from 555,000 tons in 2024, which was the highest level of production since 2019. Last year’s output was hampered by several weeks of interrupted operations in October at the Duque de Caxais refinery of state-owned oil company Petrobras. The base oil plant at the Du...

In the fast-evolving landscape of automotive manufacturing, assembly robots are the unsung heroes of precision engineering. Imagine a busy factory floor, with robots working around the clock — welding, painting and placing parts with perfect precision. Yet, beneath this symphony of motion lies a hidden vulnerability — the compact RV (Rotate Vector) reducers that power these machines, accounting for up to 40% of a robot’s cost. A single failure here can grind an entire production line t...

London — SAE 0W lubricants are projected to become the fastest-growing light-duty engine oil segment over the next decade across Europe, North America and North Asia, with emerging markets such as India also contributing to demand expansion, according to Chevron. Speaking at the Argus Global Base Oil Conference earlier this month, Luyen Vo, senior manager of global technical sales and business development in Chevron’s base oil division, said tightening fuel economy standards and evolving eng...

The year started with weak demand for new passenger cars in the European Union, with registrations across the bloc declining 3.9% year on year in January, according to the European Car Manufacturers’ Association. It is the second consecutive year of decline in the EU auto market, underscoring persistent fragility in consumer sentiment, even as electrified models gain ground. Europe’s automotive sector is a mainstay of the continent’s economy, supporting 13.6 million jobs, equivalent to 8.1...

Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co. and Saudi Aramco inked a agreement to cover the supply and procurement of lubricating base oils. The Tokyo-based refiner and lubricant manufacturer said the agreement is meant to streamline base oil procurement. Base oils typically account for 70% to 90% of a finished lubricant formulation, depending on application. Securing reliable access to these core feedstocks is critical for lubricant producers seeking to maintain quality and supply continuity. Saudi Ara...

Harrison SPARC Debuts Eco-Focused EP Additive Harrison SPARC has transitioned from development phase to commercial rollout with the introduction of HMC EcoCling EP, its first in-house extreme-pressure additive. The product is engineered to align with stringent environmental, social and governance benchmarks, leveraging advanced metal-surface affinity to rapidly create a protective tribolayer. By strengthening adhesion at an early stage, the formulation reduces reliance on elevated sulphur treat ...