Lubricant blenders in Indonesia have an enormous and growing surplus of manufacturing capacity - more than 50 percent, according to government officials - but observers expect the slack to eventually lessen due economic growth and regulation.

Chinese consumption of metalworking fluids may be flattening in terms of volume, but industry insiders say suppliers should benefit from the governments newly released Made in China 2025 strategy.

Croda International Plc announced last week that it completed an expansion that doubled the size of its alkoxylation plant in Singapore.

Shell, the last refiner at Manilas Pandacan oil depot, finished demolishing its facilities there last month, bringing to a close a decade-long fight about the use of the property.

Protecting engine parts with surface-active additives is critical to improving fuel economy, and may be a revolution in lubricant formulations, Lubrizols testing suggests.