Adrian Brown is away. His column will reappear in the July 6 edition of Lube Report Asia.

Electric vehicles are on the rise, but internal combustion engines will continue to dominate vehicle populations for the foreseeable future, meaning lubricant suppliers need to expand product portfolios, industry insiders said at a conference this week.

ExxonMobil announced Tuesday that it is planning a multi-billion dollar expansion at its Singapore refining complex, which will increase output of API Group II base stocks and clean fuels. This project would be in addition to the expansion currently underway at its existing Group II plant there.

Chevron Oronite announced Tuesday its final investment decision to build a wholly-owned additive manufacturing plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, with commercial production anticipated to begin in 2021.

New Zealands biggest lubricant brands have joined forces to recover and recycle waste packaging.