South Korea exported 22% less base oil volume in June, compared to the same month last year, but the declared value of those exports rose 4%, according to data released last week by the Korea Customs Service. The base oil volume exported during the first half of this year decreased 5% to 2.1 million tons, compared to the same period in 2021.

Japanese specialty lubricant producer Moresco Corp. reported improved sales for its specialty lubricants for its first fiscal quarter ended in May, with strong increases in cutting oils and hydraulic oils revenue, while sales for synthetic lubricants were flat.

A company in Northeastern China has finished constructing a blending plant designed to make fluid lubricants formulated with graphene. Sanrun Technology Co. is now commissioning equipment and plans soon to begin operating the plant, which has capacity to make 30,000 metric tons per year of lubricants, according to recent reports by the local government and Chinese news organizations.