Volume 9 Issue 45

Moove Acquires Grupo Pax

Brazilian lubricant maker and distributor Moove acquired Grupo Pax and its three lubricant companies. The Brazilian Antitrust Authority is yet to approve the U.S. $71.8-million deal, but it could make Moove the dominant grease player in the country.

S-Oil Posts Overall Loss, Base Oils Solid

S-Oil blamed a weaker won and tighter refining margins on its third quarter net loss. The same period in 2023 saw brisk business for the South Korean refiner.

Fuchs Upgrades Barcelona Plant

German independent lubricant company Fuchs Petrolub SE has invested €11 million on improvements to the production center, labs and headquarters of its subsidiary Fuchs Lubricants based in Castellbisbal, Catalonia, Spain. The aim is to increase turnover by 10%. Spain’s lubricant demand reached 341,900 metric tons in 2023, up 3% from 332,000 tons in 2022 and 1% from 339,000 tons in 2021, according to the Madrid-based association. Spain, of which Catalonia is an autonomous region, is the fourth...

Big Decrease for German Lube Demand

Lubricant demand in Germany, including process oils, sank to 26,323 metric tons in August, easily the market’s worst performance in 2024 in terms both of raw numbers and year-to-year comparison.

Changing Positions: Shake-up at SK

October was a busy month for the industry’s human resources departments.

From the Previous Edition

Stimulus Should Boost China Market

Motul Buys Metalworking Fluid Firm

Italy’s Model for Waste Oil Regeneration

Commercialization Starts for ACEA 2024

China Base Oil Imports Down Again

Briefly Noted

TotalEnergies Lubrifiants has announced a strategic collaboration with TecAlliance, integrating its full range of lubricants, including Quartz and ELF engine oils, into the TecDoc Catalogue.

Chemicals maker Lyondell Basell Industries will permanently shut its Houston refinery by February 2025. The plant formerly produced base oil, but that had already ceased. The company is considering converting the site into plastics or renewable fuels feedstocks production.

Amsoil Inc. launched a new automatic transmission fluids called Amsoil Signature Series ultra-low viscosity 100% synthetic ATF for cars with Ford Mercon ULV and GM Dexron ULV fluid specifications.