Nynas naphthenic business unit, which supplies mostly base oils, reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of 180 million Swedish krona (U.S. $21 million) for the quarter ending Dec. 31, down 48.4 percent from 349 million krona in the same period in 2014. For the full year, the business units EBITDA reached 642 million krona, down 33.2 percent from 961 million krona.

Net sales for Nynas napthenic business unit fell to 1.7 billion Swedish krona in the fourth quarter, down 26.1 percent from the year-earlier period, which the company attributed to lower crude oil price levels, partially offset by increasing volumes and currency. For full year 2015, the business units sales declined to 8.4 billion krona, down 15.2 percent from 9.8 billion krona in 2014, as a consequence of 47 percent lower crude oil price levels, partially offset by increasing volumes and positive currency impact from a weaker Swedish krona.

The company said European naphthenic sales in the fourth quarter and for the whole year increased in all countries, except Russia and the Ukraine, compared to the same periods in 2014.

Sales in the Americas in the fourth quarter increased significantly, Nynas said, while overall 2015 sales were at a similar level compared to 2014, mainly due to the impact of the economic recession in Brazil.

Asia, Middle East and Africa sales in the fourth quarter and for the whole year increased significantly compared to the same periods in the previous year, setting a new record for total sales in the region.

Nynas operates a plant in Nynashamn, Sweden, with 7,600 barrels per day of naphthenic base oil production capacity. The companys Harburg, Germany, plant has capacity to make 2,800 b/d of naphthenic oil and 3,300 b/d of paraffinic API Group I.

Neste Oil and Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PdVSA) are co-owners of Nynas. In addition to its 7,800 b/d naphthenic plant in Nynashamn, Sweden, Nynas has a long-term marketing agreement to sell naphthenic base oils produced at the Refineria Isla refinery operated by PdVSA in Emmastad, Curacao. That plant has 3,700 b/d of naphthenic capacity and 5,000 b/d of paraffinic Group I capacity.

Clean Harbors

Clean Harbors Kleen Performance Products segment – which includes oil rerefining – reported $90.1 million in third party revenues for the fourth quarter, down 16.8 percent from $120.3 million a year earlier. The segments third party revenues for full year 2015 totaled $386.8 million, down 27.5 percent from $533.6 million for 2014.

Third-party revenues represent the segments sales of base oil, blended products and reclaimed fuel oil and a small amount of byproducts.

Continued weakness and deteriorating conditions across a number of our markets made 2015 a challenging year, Clean Harbors Chairman and CEO Alan McKim said in the companys earnings news release. These factors included the crash in crude oil prices and the corresponding downturn in energy markets, a sharp decline in Canadian currency, repeated drops in base oil prices, customer deferrals of spending on major waste projects and a slowdown in U.S. industrial in the second half of the year.

In the companys business outlook and financial guidance, McKim noted the company will continue to create a closed-loop direct sales model, in which we sell finished lubricants back to our waste oil collection customers. He added that Clean Harbors cost reduction efforts are not yet fully implemented and our waste oil collection stop fees are just beginning to gain meaningful traction in light of continued crude oil declines in the first quarter.

Clean Harbors acquired rerefiner Evergreen Oil out of bankruptcy for $60 million in 2013, Safety-Kleen for $1.3 billion in December 2012 and earlier this year Vertex Energys rerefinery in Fallon, Nevada, for $35 million.

Norwell, Massachusetts-based Clean Harbors rerefineries and related products fall under its Kleen Performance Products name and brand. Its Newark, California, rerefinery has 1,150 barrels per day of API Group II capacity. The companys East Chicago, Indiana, rerefinery has 800 b/d of Group I and 4,200 b/d of Group II capacity. Its rerefinery in Breslau, Canada, has capacities of 700 b/d of Group I and 1,200 b/d of Group II. The Nevada rerefinery acquired from Vertex has 1,400 b/d of Group II production capacity.

Quaker Chemical

Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-headquartered Quaker Chemical posted $11.9 million in net income for the fourth quarter, down 7.8 percent from $12.9 million in the year-earlier period. For the full year 2015, the lubricant suppliers net income was $52.7 million, down 9.6 percent from $58.3 million.

The companys net sales reached $183.3 million, down 5.5 percent from $194 million. Full-year 2015 net sales totaled $737.6 million, down 3.7 percent from $765.9 million.

Foreign exchange headwinds continued to have the most significant negative impact on our sales and earnings, and we were also challenged by global steel industry production being down over 4 percent, Quaker Chemical Chairman, CEO and President Michael Berry said in the companys earnings news release. In addition, we are seeing continued weak economic conditions in several regions, especially in South America.