It has been a very dismal week in the Americas and Europe, with very little trade being discussed over the past week. Asia is not exactly buzzing either, but there are signs of some products being moved, especially into China. U.S. Gulf of Mexico It has been another deathly quiet week in the U.S. Gulf. The large number of ships open between now and the end of the month is testament to the poor demand being seen in the region these days. The U.S. Gulf to Caribbean trade is very thin, and there...

The worlds lubricating grease manufacturers created nearly 2.4 billion pounds of the stuff during 2011, a record-high volume, according to data released last week by the National Lubricating Grease Institute. The years total output of 2.38 billion pounds, as reported by 162 grease manufacturers worldwide, was 1 percent higher than 2010’s yield of 2.36 billion pounds, the newly published NLGI Grease Production Survey Report shows. 2011s global production also comfortably surpassed the 2.3...

Health Canada postponed lowering the limits on the popular metalworking fluid biocide triazine to 500 ppm, a change originally scheduled to go into effect in mid-June, while it reviews more data. Formaldehyde-releasing chemistries are very cost-effective biocides and have been used for decades in metalworking fluids. The most common formaldehyde-donor chemistry is triazine, also known as hexahydrotriazine or HHT. Following consultation with stakeholders, Health Canadas Pest Management Regulato...

MOSCOW – Russias inability to produce high quality base oils and lube additives is problematic, but the bigger issue it faces today is the lack of a modern lubricants testing facility, an oils and additives expert told an industry gathering here this month. Russia has excellent personnel and good labs that can develop high quality additives and lubricants, but still there is no modern center where they can be tested, Boris Sobolev of Russias Refiners and Petrochemical Producers Associati...

Independent lubricant blender Fuchs Petrolub plans a A.$5 million expansion in Australia of its Sunshine facility and a major redevelopment of its Newcastle site. Global CEO Stefan Fuchs announced the investment plans during a presentation to staff at the 2012 Fuchs Australasia National Sales conference, according to a company statement. Fuchs did not release details of the presentation or detail the scope of work at either site. Newcastle is in the state of New South Wales, and Sunshine is a ...

NexLube Tampas contractors will begin construction on its base oil rererefinery and blending plant in Florida by the end of June. Were still planning on commissioning the plant in the last quarter of 2013, Alberto Mendoza, NexLube Tampa vice president of marketing and supply/managing member, told Lube Report. The Tampa Port Authority and NexLube Tampa signed a 20-year lease agreement June 6 for the 12 acres where the $75 million rerefinery will be located. In a statement, the port authority s...