Volume 2 Issue 37
SSY Base Oil Shipping Report
September 10, 2019It has been a disappointing week in Asia. European markets are mixed, with some routes performing better than others. The United States, however, is looking good for September on almost every trade lane.-by Adrian Brown
Group II Duty Exemption for EU Reviewed
September 10, 2019A European Commission committee met on Sept. 6 to discuss whether to renew, amend or abolish a tariff exemption for API Group II base oil imports to the bloc. The waiver is set to expire in December, and ideas to implement a quota are under discussion.
Opet Fuchs JV Opens Lube Plant in Turkey
September 10, 2019German-Turkish joint venture Opet Fuchs last week announced the start of operations at its lubricant blending plant in Aliaga, Turkey, near Izmir, saying the plant was built to meet rapid sales growth in the country and in the neighboring markets.
Geographic Lube Demand Trends Shift
September 10, 2019Global lubricant demand has been mostly flat during recent decades, but the geographic spread of that demand has shifted significantly, an industry analyst told a conference late last month.
From Other Editions of Lube Report
September 10, 2019Briefly Noted
September 10, 2019Swiss lubricants maker Panolin announced that it is converting a large portion of its products from API Group I base oil to rerefined Group II. A first phase will convert products accounting for about 35 percent of its annual lubricants production volume. Ingevity expanded its lubricants distribution network by establishing increased partnerships with Carroux GmbH and Sea-Land Chemical in the European market. Carroux, which distributes Ingevitys lubricants products in Germany, will expand its sales into Eastern European countries, and Sea-Land, which distributes Ingevitys lubricants business in the United States, will now also sell the products in Western Europe.
Correction
September 10, 2019In the emailed version of last weeks issue, an article about a complaint against a Toyota First-branded engine oil mistakenly included an image of a Toyota genuine oil. The Toyota First oil is marketed by Impetus Automotive Ltd., not the Japanese automaker. The article also stated incorrectly that Verification of Lubricant Standards monitors engine oils on behalf of the technical association of the European lubricants industry. VLS acts independently in monitoring the United Kingdoms market.