Volume 2 Issue 5

Japanese Auto Production Rose in 2014

Automobile production in Japan increased 1.5 percent in 2014, as stronger domestic sales offset a significant drop in exports, the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association announced Friday.

Malaysias UMW Sets Sights on Southeast Asia

Malaysian conglomerate UMW Group aims to penetrate Southeast Asian markets with its new line of lubricants and is targeting overall lube sales of 100 million ringgit (U.S. $28 million) by 2019.

Shell to Blend in Indonesia

Shells first lubricant blending plant in Indonesia will be fully operational by 2016, a company spokesman told Lube Report Asia.

S-Oil Ups Profit in 2014

S-Oils base oil business posted operating income of 258 billion won (U.S. $234 million) for 2014, a 66 percent surge from 2013.

Briefly Noted

Hyundai Motor Co. named Shell Lubricants as its preferred aftermarket motor oil supplier for another five years. Pune, India-based DSK Motowheels has selected Frances Motul to supply lubricants for the Benelli motorcycles that it assembles and sells on behalf of the Italian manufacturer.