Volume 11 Issue 24
Drone Strikes Hit Russian PAO and Base Oil Production Hub
June 17, 2026Ukraine’s long-range drone campaign against Russian energy infrastructure reached one of the country’s most important petrochemical centers on June 12, when drones reportedly struck facilities in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, including Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Tatneft’s Taneco refinery. Russian authorities acknowledged a drone attack on the city, temporarily restricting operations at airports in Kazan and Nizhnekamsk and canceling public events. Nizhnekamsk Mayor Radmir Belyayev said...
Hormuz Gridlock Delays China Refineries Start-up
June 17, 2026The fallout from the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran has reached China, where refiners have delayed two projects with a combined capacity of 500,000 barrels per day amid concerns about crude supply disruptions. Tankers are backing up at the Strait of Hormuz, the critical shipping chokepoint through which much of the world’s oil trade passes and which Iran has threatened to close to unescorted vessels. The larger project, a 300,000-bpd refinery being built by Huajin Aramco Petrochemical Co. in...
Global Supply Crisis Hits Australia
June 17, 2026Australia’s lubricant market is feeling the impact of supply chain disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict, which has sent global base oil prices soaring. While supply remains available, industry participants say rising costs pose a more immediate challenge than outright shortages, according to reporting by The Guardian Australia. API Group II base oil prices in Asia have more than doubled since March, while Iranian attacks early in the conflict have temporarily sidelined around one-fif...
EU Bans Richful for Aiding Russian Military
June 17, 2026Chinese chemical manufacturer Richful Lube Additives Co. was added Tuesday to the European Commission’s sanctions list for entities accused of providing material support to Russia’s military and its war in Ukraine. The designation places Richful among 819 entities subject to EU sanctions. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, the bloc has rolled out successive sanctions packages targeting sectors that support Moscow’s military-industrial complex, including energy, finance and manufacturing. The ...
Briefly Noted
June 17, 2026Castrol Gets Heavy in Malaysia
Castrol Malaysia has signed an agreement with Sany Heavy Industry Malaysia, the local arm of Chinese construction equipment manufacturer Sany Group, to supply lubricants and technical support for the company’s machinery fleet. Under the partnership, Castrol will provide engine oils, gear oils, hydraulic fluids and greases for Sany equipment, along with technical services, lubrication guidance, application support and training. The companies will also collaborate on lubricant recommendations for different operating conditions and equipment requirements.
The agreement expands Castrol’s presence in Malaysia’s construction and heavy equipment sector, where demand for specialized lubricants is closely tied to infrastructure and industrial activity. Castrol operates a lubricant blending plant in Port Klang and serves more than 14,000 customers across Malaysia through its distribution network. The company is part of BP and markets its products in the country through BPCastrol Lubricants (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
Cosmo Unifies Brand
Cosmo Oil Lubricants will add seven products to its Cosmo Fillio line from June, consolidating oils previously sold under the Cosmorio brand under a single name. The additions include two-stroke engine oil, cleaning oil, diesel engine oil and drivetrain lubricants. The lineup comprises Cosmo Fillio 2Cycle Oil, Cleaning Oil, DL-1 5W-30, DH-2 10W-30, Gear Differential, Gear Mission and ATF. The move comes as tighter emissions and fuel-economy rules drive automakers toward smaller, higher-output engines that place greater demands on lubricants, the company said.
Cosmo Energy Group operates 2,546 service stations across Japan, giving it about 12.4% of the domestic market, according to its 2025 integrated report. The products will be sold through Cosmo’s nationwide service-station network. Most grades will be available in 20-litre pails and 200-litre drums, while the two-stroke oil will also be offered in 4-litre and 0.5-litre packs.
Indian Oil Corp. Goes Hyper
Indian Oil Corp. launched the Servo Hyper Series, the company’s most advanced premium lubricant portfolio, which it says is designed for evolving automotive and high-performance industrial requirements. The range is formulated with advanced synthetic base oils and next-generation additive technologies, and is designed to meet the growing demand for premium lubrication across automotive and industrial segments. It carries QR-enabled digital authentication and traceability features that let customers verify authenticity and access product information, alongside packaging that uses more recyclable and recycled materials.
The series was developed through IndianOil’s lubricant technology ecosystem, anchored by its research and development centre in Faridabad, India, and supported by the recently commissioned integrated lube complex at Manali, Chennai, which the company describes as the world’s largest integrated lubricant manufacturing facility. IndianOil cites an extensive network of about 43,000 retail outlets and nearly 90,000 lubricant touchpoints.