Volume 2 Issue 7

Indias Grease Market: Poised for Upgrade?

The Indian grease market is the worlds third-largest and is growing approximately 2 percent per year, according to an analyst. One industry insider says it may also be ready to upgrade.

SK Rethinks Group III Expansion

SK Lubricants is reconsidering plans to expand their API Group III base oil joint venture in Dumai, Indonesia, a company official told Lube Report Asia.

Chinese Suppliers Predict PAO Demand

Lubricant demand in China has jumped so much in recent years that some now deem it the worlds biggest market, surpassing the United States. The countrys demand for polyalphaolefins, however, remains scant.

Profits Fall for Indian Suppliers

Tide Water Oil Co., Sah Petroleums and Apar Industries Ltd.s oils segment all reported significant drops in profitability for the quarter ended Dec. 31.

Huntsman: Asia Needs More Amines

Huntsman Corp. will double capacity at its polyetheramines plant in Jurong Island, Singapore, to 50,000 tons per year by mid-2016.

Briefly Noted

Japanese petrochemical firmKH Neochem Co. Ltd.agreed to a U.S. $400 million 47-47-6 joint venture investment with Taiwans state-ownedCPC Corp. and a Taiwanese bank, respectively. The JV, known asTaiwan-Japan Oxo Chemical Inc., will produce lubricants feedstocks isononyl alcohol and butene trimer. Greek marine lubes supplier Aegean MarinePetroleum Network has opened a new location in Singapore as part of its newly launched marketing and trading division.