Volume 3 Issue 8

Auto Sales Down in Southeast Asia

Despite a 4 percent drop in Southeast Asias sales of four-wheel vehicles in 2015 and a 12 percent slide in motorcycle and scooter sales, industry analysts still predict growth in regional lubricants demand.

More Planes Using More Lubes in Asia-Pacific

Steady growth in the number of commercial aircraft in Asia-Pacific means the regions demand for aviation lubricants is also rising and should continue to do so in coming years. Industry insiders say the increase in lube demand will be tempered by a shift towards higher quality lubes.

China Trending Toward Group II

API Group II is becoming the dominant grade in Chinas base stock market, a trend that should continue with further capacity additions in coming years, an analyst with ICIS China-C1 Energy told an industry conference in London Thursday.

GTS Lubricants Revenues Surge

GTS Chemical Holdings reported that sales revenue for its lubricants division jumped 52 percent in 2015, thanks to continued expansion of the business.

Briefly Noted

State-owned Indian Oil Corp. signed a partnership with Mohammed Yousef Ngai Group for distribution of its Servo brand of industrial, automotive and marine lubricants in Saudi Arabia, which it says will help realize its goal of doubling lubricant sales internationally. Global base oil sales are projected to reach U.S. $41.68 billion by 2020, up from $39.43 billion in 2014, according to a study by Markets and Markets Inc.