A memorandum of understanding between Aster Chemicals and Energy and Puraglobe sets out plans to study a rerefined base oil (RRBO) facility in Singapore, according to statements from both firms. The agreement, signed at the end of April, covers only feasibility work and focuses on converting used motor oil into API Group II and Group III base oils. The companies said that the proposed plant would apply Puraglobe’s existing rerefining processes, already used at its site in Elsteraue, Germany, w...

The Japanese government has made assurances that there is sufficient lubricant supply and urged the lubricant industry to continue supplying products to all customers, as businesses grapples with a shortage of lubricants due to the Middle East conflict. During an interview on April 17, the Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa Ryosei said that currently, supply is secured through alternative procurement of crude oil and the release of stockpiles. However, some distributors and consum...

The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) released its 2026 Report on Emerging Issues and Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering, highlighting four key factors that it believes will change lubricant development and application across multiple industries. The widespread adoption of electric vehicles, government pressure to reduce emissions across all transport modes and end users’ performance demands have presented major challenges in the past decade. The report ...

Germany’s Fuchs SE completed full acquisition of its Turkish joint venture with Opet, consolidating its position in a key regional lubricants market, the company announced. The deal gives FUCHS full ownership of the Istanbul-headquartered business, including its production facility in Aliaga, Izmir. Turkey’s lubricants market is one of the largest in Europe, with annual demand estimated at between 700,000 and 800,000 metric tons. It is characterized by strong demand from construction, mining...

Aduro Clean Technologies Reaches into Paraffinics Aduro Clean Technologies Inc. said it has expanded its hydrochemolytic technology (HCT) to process highly paraffinic crude oils and filed a continuation-in-part patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office covering the development. Bench-scale testing on wax-rich crude from the Uinta Basin showed the process can reduce wax content while maintaining crude stability at ambient temperatures, the company said. Paraffinic crud...

Developed in response to market demand, Cargill has introduced its new Priolube™ 3982 high viscosity ester for industrial gear oil applications, providing a bio-based* alternative to conventional Polyalphaolefin (PAO) thickeners. Launched earlier this year, the latest addition to Cargill’s expansive synthetic ester portfolio boasts 83% bio-based* content and reduces required thickener treat rate by 25% compared to PAO 100 (Figure 1) – all without sacrificing viscosity, durability, or ...