A bit more business has been detected in the U.S. markets this week. Europe is steady, with freights roughly unchanged. Asian coastal markets are very much hand-to-mouth, however, with some freights starting to weaken.-by Adrian Brown

As new base oil production hubs emerge, the industrys supply base is diversifying, disrupting established trade flows and intensifying competition among suppliers, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, an expert said at an industry event in Mumbai last week.

When the Tianjin Lubes and Greases Association formed just over a year ago, officials decided that traditional programs of industrial associations - training programs, serving as an information clearinghouse and promoting member companies - is no longer enough to attract members.

Japans base oil export volumes plunged 24 percent last year as production and domestic sales fell and imports continued to increase, according to initial figures released by the countrys Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.