Sinopec and BASF recently inaugurated the downstream expansion of their petrochemicals joint venture in Nanjing, China – a project that added production of several types of chemicals, including ethanolamines, which are used among other things as intermediates in the production of lubricants and lubricant additives.

China has been a net base oil importer in the past few years, but supplies coming from abroad are decreasing as its domestic production is improving, and base oil exports are beginning to grow, an industry conference heard recently.

MJL Bangladesh and Eastern Lubricants Blenders reported large improvements in sales and profits for the quarter ended Sept. 30, though Eastern still recorded an operating loss, while Lub-rref posted plummeting net profit on a deep decline in sales.