Rowe Beefs Up Sales and Marketing Team Rowe has appointed Thomas Papez as senior vice president of global sales and marketing and a member of its management board. Papez joins the German lubricant manufacturer after serving as managing director of BestDrive Austria, a subsidiary of Continental, from 2022 to 2026. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the automotive and mobility sectors, including senior roles at Bosch Mobility Aftermarket. The company has also appointed Julia Lais as hea...

The European Commission has unconditionally approved Stonepeak Partners LP’s acquisition of a controlling stake in Castrol, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for BP Plc’s planned sale of the lubricant business and bringing the $10.1 billion transaction closer to completion. The deal underscores growing investor interest in the global lubricants sector, a market valued at more than $160 billion annually and supported by demand from automotive, industrial, marine and commercial customers. While...

A cartel of South Korean industrial lubricant suppliers colluded to raise prices and rig bids during periods of market turmoil, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, according to the country’s antitrust regulator. The companies could face fines of up to KRW 404 billion (U.S.$262 million). The case strikes at a key sector in one of Asia’s largest manufacturing economies. South Korea’s lubricants market was valued at about $2.1 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow st...

Olin Corp. and Huntsman Corp. are merging to create a chemicals producer with roughly U.S.$12.5 billion in annual revenue and a broader footprint across North America’s industrial supply chain. The companies said on June 16 that the combined business will be renamed OlinHuntsman Corp. and headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by both boards, is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. The...

The United Kingdom’s lubricant specification watchdog has prompted a series of product withdrawals, claim revisions and label changes as it continues a market-wide review of engine oils claiming compliance with Stellantis’ FPW 9.55535/03 specification. Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS), an body that investigates lubricant product complaints, launched the probe in 2025 amid growing use of the specification across Stellantis passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The requi...