LAS VEGAS – ExxonMobil forecasts global energy demand in 2030 will be 35 percent greater than in 2005, with oil remaining the largest energy source. Hybrid and other advanced vehicles will make up 15 percent of all personal vehicles, up from 1 percent today, an ExxonMobil senior energy advisor told the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers annual meeting. In The Outlook for Energy: A View to 2030, ExxonMobil notes that among fossil fuels, natural gas is abundant, widely availa...

Shells Pennzoil-Quaker State Co. is exploring the sale of its Car Care portfolio, including wipers, chemicals and appearance products, and is already in advanced discussions to sell its auto accessories and air care business, Auto Expressions, to Kraco Enterprises. Shells strategic review, announced May 14, covers the Car Care business in North America and Shell Car Care International, which sells to Europe, Australia, China, Japan and Russia. Because Auto Expressions products make up a large p...

Chevron Downstream and Chemicals named Patricia Sinkin Leigh general manager of Chevron global base oils effective May 16, succeeding Marty Gilles. Leigh will oversee the base oil business units day-to-day activities as well as direct strategic growth for future production from Chevrons base oil refineries. Gilles moved into the position of general manager for Americas transportation and operations. In 1990 Leigh joined Chevron as a petroleum engineer. She later held positions in shipping, sup...

American Suzuki Motor Corp. and aftermarket additive supplier BG Products have inked an agreement under which BG will have exclusive vendor status to supply American Suzuki dealers with fluid products, related equipment and training. Asked the companys position on use of aftermarket lubricant and fuel additives, American Suzuki attorney Terrence Huang told Lube Report, We dont endorse any aftermarket additives. He continued, In light of the [1996] Slick 50 complaint by the Federal Trade Commis...

Shell Aviation has appointed China Aviation Oil Hong Kong Ltd. as an authorized, exclusive distributor of AeroShell aviation lubricant products in China. Shells aviation lubricant products include AeroShell brand oil, grease, landing gear fluids and a recently launched high performance turbine oil for aircraft engines. The two companies, who jointly announced the agreement on Thursday, said they were confident of achieving sustainable growth in AeroShell business in the fast growing China mark...

Overall, it has been a quiet week. Very little is happening out of the Americas. Europe too is floundering with more and more ships open with few firm prospects. Only Asia has fared well in terms of activity this week. U.S. Gulf of Mexico There are a number of ships that will be fully open after discharge in the U.S. Gulf at the end of May and first ten days of June. The problem is that most of these ships are larger vessels and their owners are unwilling to parcel up with cargoes of 5,000 tons...