The European market fell away again quite quickly this week. The United States remains tight, and a few routes are attracting higher freight levels. Asia had another busy week in the run-up to the lunar holidays.-by Adrian Brown

Oxea released additional details yesterday about its previously discussed plan to increase production capacity of carboxylic acids, which are used for manufacturing lubricant esters. The German chemical maker said it will debottleneck and optimize production processes at existing facilities and then build another plant by 2021.

BASF increased lubricant antioxidant capacity at its Puebla, Mexico, site to keep up with growing demand for additives that lengthen the life of lubricants, the company announced last week. The new capacity of the facility was not disclosed, but the company did say production began last quarter.

Curacaos government suspended its impending selection of a new operator for its Isla Refinery until a probe into corruption allegations regarding the selection is resolved, according to media reports.

Chemicals company Brenntag AG acquired the lubricants arm of Texas-based Reeder Distributors Inc., continuing to build its South Central United States distribution network through acquisitions.