The markets are still very disjointed. Some routes have been rather slow this week, even in the Americas and Asia, but equally there have been routes in all three main regions in which activity has improved.-by Adrian Brown

API Group II and Group III base oil exports from the Middle East into India and China are growing and pressuring market shares of Asian producers, an industry observer said at a conference in Singapore this week.

Idemitsu Kosan completed the construction of its second Indonesia lubricant blending plant, nearly doubling its production capacity within the country, the company said in a press release this week.

Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd., Balmer Lawrie & Co., GP Petroleums Ltd. and Continental Petroleums Ltd. each reported increased profits, while Maximus International Ltd. reported a decline in profit for the quarter ending Sept. 30.