The company attributed the improvement primarily to an increase of $20.7 million in gross profit, partially offset by higher transportation expense of $3.8 million due to increased sales volume. Our specialty products production levels and gross profit significantly improved in the third and fourth quarters of 2010, with our specialty products production reaching the highest point in our history for any fourth quarter, said Bill Grube, Calumets CEO and vice chairman.

For the full year, Indianapolis-based Calumet posted $16.7 million in net income, compared to $61.8 million in 2009.

Fourth quarter sales revenue amounted to $596.2 million, up 20.2 percent from $495.9 million in 2009s fourth quarter. For the full year, Calumets specialty products sales revenue reached $2.2 billion, 18.6 percent higher than the 2009 sales total of $1.9 billion.

Specialty products sales volume in the fourth quarter topped 31,217 barrels per day, up 20.3 percent from the year earlier period. Calumet said that was due primarily to improvements in overall specialty products demand under improved economic conditions and from the addition of sales volumes under its specialty products agreements with LyondellBasell subsidiary Houston Refining.

Calumets specialty products segment sales volumes in the fourth quarter included 14,966 b/d of lubricating oils, 9,666 b/d of solvents and 1,408 b/d of waxes.