Volume 8 Issue 25

China Companies Aim to Replace Imports

Chinese lube industry leaders called for edging out imported products at the 2021 China Inter Lubric held on June 7 in Shanghai, fearing that China’s growing tension with Western countries could cause supply chain issues.

Lithium Greases Rebound in China, India

Lithium greases made a small comeback in 2020 in Asia’s two largest grease markets, according to the latest survey by the United States-based National Lubricating Grease Institute. The portion of products made with conventional or complex lithium soap thickeners rose from 68% to 70% in China and from 82% to 85% in India.

Lower Expenses Boost Lub-rref Profit

Bangladesh lubricant producer Lub-rref posted a 7% improvement in operating profit for the quarter ended March 31, thanks mostly to a reduction in financial expenses and despite an 8% drop in revenue. The company had an operating profit of 86.4 million taha (U.S. $1 million) for the period compared to 80.7 million for the same period a year earlier.

From Other Editions of Lube Report

Total Loss Expected From Chemtool Fire

Ergon Restarting West Virginia Refinery

COVID Didn’t Change Russian Lube Habits

Briefly Noted

OQ Chemicals, outside of the United States and Europe, will raise prices effective July 1 by $220 per metric ton on 2-ethylhexanoic acid, a chemical intermediate that can be used to make synthetic lubricants and oil additives.