Volume 5 Issue 7

Sapref to Pause Operations in March

The South African base oil market will become completely import-dependent from March when Sapref – the joint venture between BP and Shell – halts operations at its fuels refinery in Durban.

Rerefiners Rebounding from Pandemic

Rerefiners of used lubricants suffered some of the same problems that have impacted producers of virgin base oils during the COVID-19 pandemic: an initial drop of demand, workplace disruptions, increased transportation costs. But one of the biggest problems for virgin base oil producers – a shortage of feedstocks for their own operations – became a big advantage for the rerefining segment; rerefiners experienced little loss of feedstock supply and enjoyed a significant uptick in demand from ...

Russian Base Oil Exports Rose

Russian base oil exports jumped 21% in December after an 11% decline in November, a trading company concluded, providing an upbeat end to a volatile year marked by supply shortages.

Bridging to Category II Cylinder Oils

Maritime emissions regulations introduced in 2020 caused ship operators to transition to cylinder oils with lower base numbers of 40 and led a market-leading engine manufacturer to develop a new performance specification for them. But questions remain about the widespread availability of such products, according to speakers at an online webinar last month, and supply issues could create new complications for ship operators.

From Other Editions of Lube Report

U.S. to Seize Sime Darby Palm Products

Shell Mulls Group II in Singapore

Profits Rise for Castrol India, Dip for Gulf

Briefly Noted

The new head of Cologne, Germany-based Lanxess’ lubricants additives business will be Neelanjan Banerjee as of July 1. He has been head of India region, country representative for Lanxess in India and managing director of Lanxess India Private Ltd. since August 2018.  Shell Lubricants Egypt extended for five more years, to 2026, its contract with international gold producer Centamin to supply lubricants to its Sukari Gold Mine in Egypt.  Ernst Prost will retire as managing director of German lubricant and aftermarket additive manufacturer Liqui Moly on Feb. 22, and will be succeeded by Gunter Hiermaier. The company closed 2021 with €38 million euro in earnings before taxes, a 40% increase.