Bio-lubricant demand in 14 major markets will outpace overall lubricant demand for at least the next decade, with demand in China, Canada and parts of Europe projected to grow at an even faster pace, according to new estimates from Kline & Co. consultants. The firm predicts that bio-lube consumption in those countries will grow at a compound annual rate of 3.5% over that period.

Chevron Oronite achieved final victory this week in a long-running engine oil patent dispute with Infineum when the companies agreed to stop pursuing the case. Monday’s filing with the United States District Court for the District of Delaware came four months after a federal appeals court upheld previous decisions invalidating an Infineum patent for engine oil formulation meeting the ILSAC GF-3 performance standard on grounds that it did not clear the bar of obviousness.

The December issue explores what it will take for the lubricants industry to sustain the various engine oil approval systems and delves into the ways that energy-efficient hydraulic fluids can help to lower costs for equipment owners. Plus, discover how base oil production in the United States during the first half of 2022 differed from previous years.

Brazil's base oil production in October declined by 18%, while base oil imports rose 8%, according to data released by a government agency. The production level of 47,000 metric tons was the second-highest monthly total this year but was still down from 57,000 tons in the same month last year.