French oil major TotalEnergies handed over management of its Russia lubricant business to a Russian entity, and the transaction includes its 40,000 metric tons per year lubricant blending plant in Kaluga, state news agency Tass reported last week. Terms and conditions of the transaction were not disclosed.

KLK Oleo acquired a controlling stake in Italian oleochemical producer Temix Oleo, the companies announced. The move expands KLK Oleo’s capabilities for manufacturing esters for base oils and lubricants. KLK supplies oleochemicals primarily from palm oil, while Temix makes esters from a variety of plant oil derivatives.

The March issue delves into the buzz-worthy introduction of ILSAC GF-7. Find out when it will make its debut and how it will differ from GF-6. Plus, discover how the war in Ukraine has affected the Russian lubricants market, and learn about the most important attributes that a fluid testing lab should possess.

Independent lubricants blender Fuchs Petrolub SE reported a 2% increase in profits after tax in 2022 and a 19% bump in sales revenue, stating that raising its selling prices helped offset jumps in costs for raw materials. Fourth-quarter profits climbed 9%.