Boosted by larger volumes for Ergon and Calumet, base oil capacity in the United States totaled 214,500 barrels per day on Jan. 1, up 6 percent from the start of 2009, according to the 2010 Lubricating Oil and Wax Capacities Report by the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association. The publication summarizes locations, capacities, refinery configurations and ownership for 19 U.S. base oil and wax plants, five from Canada and two in Latin America. Four rerefineries are also listed in the st...

Shell is seeking buyers for its lubricants and other businesses in 21 countries in Africa as part of efforts to reduce its global downstream footprint and focus on larger markets. There is no time frame for the sale of our African activities, Shell spokesman Rainer Winzenried told Lube Report. Shell Oil Products Africa said it will consider appointing third-party distributors for Shell-branded lubricants in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Ghana. Shell noted that its lubricants business in Egypt,...

U.S. demand for synthetic lubricants and functional fluids could enjoy more than 3 percent annual growth in the coming years to $4.8 billion in 2013, as marketing efforts and more stringent engine specifications raise awareness of synthetics, predicts a new study from market research firm Freedonia Group. U.S. demand for synthetic engine oils should rise 7.3 percent per year to $2.6 billion in 2013, compared to $1.8 billion in 2008 and $525 million in 2003, the study forecasts. Engine oils and...

Cognis Functional Products business unit, including its synthetic lubricants business, posted an operating profit of 54 million (U.S. $73.4 million) for the full year 2009, an 8 percent improvement from 50 million in 2008. In 2009s fourth quarter, Cognis Functional Products unit reported 13 million in operating profit, up 8.3 percent from 12 million in the year-earlier period. The unit also includes mining technology, AgroSolutions and polymers, coatings and inks businesses. For the full year ...

Growmark and eight of its member cooperatives acquired the business and inventory of Tri-County Petroleum, including its lubricants and fuels business in six southern Illinois towns. Terms of the March 31 transaction were not disclosed. We have a lubricant blending operation in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and our member system extends into southern Illinois, so this gives us another access point, a distribution location to be able to better service our southern region, which is basically the southern...