The U.S. Gulf is making some progress after the Intercontinental Terminals Co. fire, but is still not back to normal. Europe is seeing a moderate amount of activity, while Asia is slowly but surely filling the last of the April loaders.-by Adrian Brown

U.S. refiners export significant quantities of base oils to the Middle East despite the regions substantial investment in API Group II and III production capacity. The United States export boom is driven by a surge in crude production and the fact the U.S. Gulf is the worlds cheapest refining region, an industry expert claims.

A Federal District Court judge in Missouri last week granted preliminary approval to a class action settlement providing partial reimbursement to customers who purchased OReilly 303 tractor hydraulic fluid in the state since July 20, 2013.

The National Automobile Dealers Association forecasts sales of 16.8 million new cars and light trucks in the United States this year, down 3 percent from 17.3 million units in 2018, which had marked the fourth straight year of sales above 17 million.

Aceto sold its performance chemicals business, which supplies lubricant additives, to New York investment firm New Mountain Capitals affiliate NMC Atlas, L.P., following the conclusion of a court-supervised sale process conducted as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.