Volume 5 Issue 12
Nynas Pulls Back from North America
March 23, 2022Nynas AB – one of the world’s largest naphthenic base oil producers and the only large European source – is halting direct sales in North America, citing supply chain issues that make it difficult to compete there. The company, which is based in Stockholm, said it will concentrate direct sales activities in Europe, which has fewer suppliers.
Workers Strike at Richmond Refinery
March 23, 2022More than 500 members of the United Steelworkers union went on strike Monday at Chevron’s refinery in Richmond, California, which has an API Group II and Group III base oil plant. Delivery of products to customers continues, the company said.
EPA Penalizes Blender Over Pollution Reports
March 23, 2022Lubricant producer Champion Brands LLC was slapped with a $130,243 fee by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to release annual reports regarding pollution at its facility.
Briefly Noted
March 23, 2022South Korea-based DL Chemical Co. Ltd. on March 15 completed its $2.5 billion acquisition of Houston-based Kraton Corp. under a definitive merger agreement that was announced last September. Kraton produces styrenic block copolymers and pine chemicals, including some used in lubricants production. As part of a planned leadership transition, Garry Ridge will retire as CEO of San Diego, California-based WD-40 Co. on Aug. 31. Steve Brass, who has served as the company’s president and chief operating officer since 2019, was appointed to become Ridge’s successor, effective Sept. 1.