Volume 3 Issue 25

Pertamina Turns Focus Overseas

Pertamina became one of the worlds 30 largest lubricant companies by growing organically in its home market. Now the Indonesian company is turning to acquisitions and foreign countries as it aims to break into the top 15.

Shortage Seen for High-VI Base Oils

Engine oil markets are shifting toward lower viscosity products that require high viscosity index base stocks, and it may be difficult for the refining industry to supply enough of them, two industry insiders said at the ICIS Asia Base Oils & Lubricants Conference here last month.

Industrial Greases Flatline in Asia

A slowdown in Chinas primary metals industry will squash demand for industrial greases in Asia-Pacific through 2019, Annie Jarquin of Kline & Co. reported at an industry conference in Virginia, United States, last week.

Singapores United Global Applies for IPO

Singaporean lubricant manufacturer and trader United Global filed a preliminary offer document for an initial public offering on Catalist, a secondary board of the Singapore Exchange, to raise funds for overseas expansion.

Briefly Noted

Malaysias Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities said three years of testing have showed B10 biodiesel causing no adverse effects to the engines of 75 vehicles of various makes and models. Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. disclosed that its integration with Idemitsu Kosan, announced last year, will not take place until April of next year, due to an ongoing review by the Japan Fair Trade Commission. Previously, Shell said it could occur as early as October of this year.