Volume 4 Issue 7

China Market to See Slow Decline

Chinas lubricant market, which grew more than any other in the world for a decade, is forecast to shrink by an average of 0.4 percent annually over the next four years.

Japans Base Oil Exports Surged in 2016

Japans base oil exports surged 21.5 percent last year as production and imports increased and domestic demand continued to shrink, according to figures released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

SE Asias Auto Sales Up, Moto Sales Down

Led by double-digit growth in Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam, automobile sales in Southeast Asia increased 3 percent last year while the regions two-wheeler sales marginally declined, according to ASEAN Automotive Federation data released last week.

Indian Suppliers Q3 Profits Vary Widely

Panama Petrochem Ltd. and GP Petroleums Ltd. each reported near doubling of their profits for the quarter ended Dec. 31, while Gulf Oil and Savita Oil Technologies saw modest gains and Balmer Lawries earnings dropped nearly 50 percent.

Briefly Noted

Shell Pakistan Ltd.signed a three-year contract to supply lubricants, technical assistance and services toFatima Group, aPakistani conglomerate. ATIEL(the Technical Association of the European Lubricants Industry) published a new edition of its Code of Practice, which introduces new performance limits, categories, and tests for meeting European performance specifications.