Volume 12 Issue 1

Hurdles Hinder Argentina's Strong Lube Market

Advantages and disadvantages abound in Argentina. It is one of the G-20 economies, with an average income classified as “upper-middle.” It has the highest GDP per capita in Latin America, which translates to substantial purchasing power for its 40 million consumers. Its unemployment rate is relatively low (7.6 percent) and literacy very high (98.1 percent). Argentina also has thriving automotive, construction and agriculture industries which are bouncing back from the downturn of 20...

Blenders Want Base Oil Flexibility

Global lubricant blenders today demand base oil flexibility to minimize risk and maximize value, two Valvoline executives said. Ashland Consumer Markets Thom Smith, vice president of branded lubricant technology, and Neal Zuzik, director of global procurement, told the ICIS Pan-American Lubricants & Base Oils Conference in Jersey City, N.J., last month that base oil flexibility is essential to meet formulation challenges, procurement challenges and operational challenges. (Ashland is Valvo...

Pakistan to Add Blending Plant

Mobil lubricants marketer MAL Pakistan is building an Rs 300 million (U.S. $3.3 million) lube oil blending plant in Karachi, Pakistan. The projects foundation stone was laid at the National Industrial Parks in Karachis Korangi industrial area, according to a Dec. 27 company statement. The plant will be built in two phases, each costing Rs 150 million, MAL Pakistan CEO Khawar Jamal said. Upon completion, this plant will have a production capacity of 33 million liters of lubricants per annum, th...

Lube Demand Grows in Russia

Driven by increased sales of foreign branded cars and consumption of higher-quality lubricants, Russias demand for light-vehicle lubricants grew 1.6 percent in the first half of 2011, compared to 2010s second half, according to a Moscow-based consultancy. The Russian passenger car lubes market amounted to 134 million liters in the first half of 2011, Auto-Marketing consultancy found. Of these 134 million liters, 56 million are finished lubes made in Russia and 78 million are imported finished l...