Volume 9 Issue 51

Perstorp Buys OQ’s Dutch Esters Plant

Swedish chemical company Perstorp last week announced it had bought OQ Chemicals’ Dutch esters manufacturing facility.

Demand Dropping for Group I in Europe

Europe is still the biggest consumer and producer of API Group I base oils, even as demand is falling, leading to an oversupplied market, according to data shared by Kline & Co. at a recent industry conference.

GF-7, a More Modest Upgrade, Will Launch March 31

ILSAC GF-7, the next passenger car engine oil specification due to market in four months, will make engines significantly cleaner and provide another incremental step toward improved fuel economy, an industry insider said at a conference here this month.

South Korea Base Oil Export Volume Jumps

The amount of base oil exports from South Korea jumped 23% in November, compared to the same month of 2023, but the value of those exports rose only 3%, reflecting the decline in base oil prices the past few months.

Environmental Benefits of Hybrids Questioned

Real-world data shows negligible differences in greenhouse gas emissions between plug-in hybrids and conventional internal combustion engine cars.

From the Previous Edition

September U.S. Base Oil Imports Jump

Cerilon GTL Plant Receives Permit

Ingevity Spends on Charleston Plant

OQ Chemicals Ups Carboxylic Acids Prices

Unlocking the Secrets of Grease

Briefly Noted

U.A.E.-based energy company Enoc Group redesigned and improved its lubricant product packaging. The new look packaging has anti-counterfeiting features and localization with multilingual labelling.

Formosa Petrochemical Corp.’s revenue to hit U.S. $8.6 million over the net five years, says The Business Research Company. The Taiwanese refiner’s revenues from its asphalt, lubricating oil and grease business are expected to grow from $6.75 billion in 2023 to $7.23 billion until 2024.

Québec’s regional government set its sights on heavy-duty vehicles to be generate zero greenhouse gas emissions. A light-duty vehicle mandate was implemented in 2018. Heavy-duty was a potential safe haven for lube makers.