The U.S. Gulf remains tight, yet freights managed to fall on several trade lanes. Europe had a much quieter week, and some routes registered lower numbers too. Asian markets had a week of mixed fortunes. U.S. Gulf of Mexico The Gulf-to-Caribbean and inter-Caribbean markets have entered into a busy phase. There are a myriad of small vegetable oil, tallow and palm oil parcels quoted, as well as a variety of small clean petroleum and chemicals cargoes up to around 10,000 tons in size. In addition,...

The U.S. Department of Commerce has ordered a temporary halt to exports by lubricant manufacturer Delfin Group USA, alleging that the company violated an embargo by supplying lubricants and/or lubricant additives to Iran. The order, which was issued Feb. 25, contends that Delfin conspired to send products to Iran by way of the United Arab Emirates. Such orders, which are filed by the Department of Commerces Bureau of Industry and Security, aim to stop potentially illegal activity pending invest...

Russian lubes producer Gazprom Neft-SM plans to break ground on a 15,000 metric ton per year lubricant blending plant in Finland in early 2013. The company recently initiated the bidding process for a developer to build the facility in the port of Hamina. The tender closes on Apr. 9. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2014, according to the tender documentation obtained by Lube Report. Gazprom Neft-SM did not disclose the projects cost. The project includes construction of a complex...

Sulfonates marketers Kimes Technologies International and Peterson Industries have merged under the Kimes name to promote a global growth strategy. The details of the transaction will remain non-disclosed but Peterson Industries’ customers will gain access to a much expanded product line, technical, laboratory, and general internal support, Julie Kimes, president and CEO of Gibsonia, Pa.-based Kimes Technologies, told Lube Report. Kimes gains access to international sales, a wider geograp...

Russias Gazprom will produce Texaco-branded marine oils in Russia for U.S. oil major Chevron, Gazprom Neft said yesterday. Under the agreement, Gazprom Neft-SM, lubricant arm of the government-controlled Russian natural gas company, will blend and market a wide range of marine oils, including hydraulic, compressor and turbine oils, as well as cooling fluids and marine greases. Base oils from Gazprom Nefts Omsk base oil refinery will be used as a feedstock, according to the agreement. Marine ...

Philippine law enforcement officials confiscated 8,878 bottles of counterfeit Castrol lubricants worth U.S. $37,000 during a raid, the nations state-run news agency reported last week. At 11:30 a.m. on March 13, operatives of the National Capital Regions Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided five warehouses and stores in Gracepark, Caloocan and Quezon cities, which are all just north of Manila, the nations capital. The establishments were owned by a Chinese businessman named Jimmy G...

Lubrizols acquisition of grease manufacturer Chemtool remains under Federal Trade Commission review, and Lubrizol expects to close on the deal once the review is complete. Originally announced in November 2011, the acquisition at the time was expected to close by year end. Wickliffe, Ohio-based Lubrizol had said Chemtools private label grease manufacturing would be a good fit with Lubrizols additives business. Lubrizol and Chemtool remain committed to completing this transaction and are contin...