Under the current government leadership, Chinese lubricant companies should expect the next decade to be the best of times, an analyst told an industry conference in Beijing. He and other speakers said new opportunities are opening.

Automotive mechanics in a region of South Korea have been penalized by authorities for colluding to fix prices on motor oil changes. The countrys Fair Trade Commission fined the car mechanics association in the Masan region 9 million won (U.S. $8,700) for violation of fair trade rules and ordered that the group take corrective actions.

The Pakistan Economy Forum has accused the nations Customs Service of acting arbitrarily by setting U.S. $1.28 per liter as the benchmark value on which to calculate import duties on base oils.

Tatnefts 190,000 ton per year API Group II/III base oil plant at its new Nizhnekamsk refinery will commission in test mode by September and could start normal operation by January 2015.

Malaysias The Otomotif College recently signed a sponsorship deal with the countrys largest custom and private grease manufacturer, Toyo Lubrication Sdn Bhd.