Volume 1 Issue 37

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

Adrian Brown is away. His column will reappear in the Sept. 12 edition of Lube Report Americas.

U.S. Base Oil Output Jumps

U.S. base oil refiners worked in high gear during the first half of 2018, producing nearly 34 million barrels of base stocks - the highest total in at least a quarter century, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Observers said that output is helping to saturate the market.

Isla Refinery Could Restart After Settlement

Curacaos Isla Refinery is idle but has cleared one hurdle to resuming operation after current operator Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. reached a $2 billion settlement with ConocoPhillips on Aug. 20.

U.S. Trucking Industry Adapts to Change

A dearth of truck drivers, mandated technology that restricts drivers time flexibility and emerging technologies such as autonomous trucks are some of the key challenges impacting the trucking industry, an insider told a conference in Des Moines, Iowa.

From Other Editions of Lube Report

Briefly Noted

Parkland Fuel Corp. acquired fuel and lubricants distributor Mandan, North Dakota-based Missouri Valley Petroleum Inc. on Aug. 28. It was the Canadian distributors second such acquisition in August after its purchase of Rhinehart Oil Co. on Aug. 13. Darren Booth, vice president of operations at Lubrication Engineers Inc., was appointed president of the Petroleum Packaging Council late last month.

Clarification

Last weeks article DCHA and the Trade War noted DCHA could be used as a biocide. It is important to note, however, that metalworking fluid formulators select DCHA for its benefits as a corrosion inhibitor; the biocidal properties of the product are simply a side benefit. ILMA does not, and has never, referred to DCHA as a biocide.