Supplies of Yubase 4 base oil are set to tighten in Europe after Repsol warned customers that it will be unable to supply the API Group III grade through much of the coming months because of production problems at its supplier’s refinery. In a customer letter seen by Lubes’n’Greases, Repsol said it had been informed of “upcoming production issues” affecting Yubase 4 availability during August, September and November. The company currently expects Yubase 4 availability to recover during...

Romania recorded the European Union’s steepest annual increase in prices for fuels and lubricants for personal transport in July, with the combined category rising 24.2% from a year earlier, according to Eurostat. The increase was well above the EU average of 16.9%. Germany and Lithuania followed Romania, both recording 22.9% increases, while Bulgaria rose 22.2% and the Netherlands 22.0%. Prices were higher year on year in 25 of the EU’s 27 member states. The July increase followed annual ri...

Prices of in China API Group II 150N base oil rose in August, with the country’s price index for that grade increasing 138 points from July, according to Lube-info.com. Firmer pricing across the domestic market was propelled by producers pushing up offers, higher crude and feedstock costs and tighter spot availability.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has authorized temporary state management of oil refineries and other critical infrastructure damaged by Ukrainian drone attacks if their owners fail to adequately protect the facilities or resume operations in time. The Aug. 24 decree also applies to energy, industrial, communications, utility, transport and logistics assets, placing fresh pressure on refinery operators already coping with repeated strikes and fuel shortages. “It is also about expropriation,�...

Fuchs Opens Americas Technology Center in Massachusetts Fuchs has unveiled a new Americas Technology Center in Taunton, Massachusetts, expanding its research, development and technical support capabilities across the Americas. The 55,000-square-foot facility opened Aug. 10 and will focus on advanced lubrication and specialty solutions. The center brings together tribology laboratories, application development teams and technical specialists to develop and test lubricants under operating conditi...