It has been a repeat performance of the previous week in which the Americas and European markets have been totally deflated with minimal new business reported. Only in Asia are there faint signs of a pulse. U.S. Gulf of Mexico Overall, the picture of trade out of the United States is bleak, with further reductions in freight rates reported. Perhaps the U.S. Gulf to Caribbean market registered a slight increase in volume, but not nearly enough to make a dent in the total number of idle ships in...

A dramatic increase in export numbers reported by Belarus for base oils and lubricants in the first quarter of 2012 has many observers of the Russian oil market raising their eyebrows. Belaruss National Statistical Committee reported first-quarter exports of almost 600,000 metric tons of base oils and lubricants, and almost 1.4 million tons of solvents, raising speculation among leading analysts that such numbers are a murky scheme conducted by Belarusian authorities to avoid paying MoscowR...

The European Council repealed an anti-dumping duty on furfuraldehyde from China, saying in recent years the EUs industry had fully recovered while prices rose on imports of the solvent used in base oil production. The significant price increase in 2010 and 2011 has dramatically reduced the margin of dumping from the [Peoples Republic of China], said the European Commission, which conducted the latest review of the anti-dumping duty and submitted a report to the EU Council recommending dropping ...

Mil Speck Re-Refining Oil Co. and non-profit organization Renewable Manufacturing Gateway, both based in Pennsylvania, signed a letter of engagement to jointly develop a base oil rerefinery. According to a statement, Mil Speck anticipates beginning operations at a new custom-designed plant in the fourth quarter of 2013. Based in Pennsylvania, Mil Speck expects the new rerefinery to process 25 million gallons of used motor oil per year and to produce vacuum gas oil, base neutral and asphalt flux...

Petronas Lubricants International has global ambitions and a new base oil futurist to help it succeed. Joe Rousmaniere, until recently the chief executive officer of Petronas Base Oils, has a new job with Malaysias national oil company, he told Lube Report in an exclusive interview yesterday. Petronas has huge ambitions for Petronas Lubricants International, a major initiative to internationalize the company, said Rousmaniere. The companys base oil assets are currently limited to its 6,500 ba...

General Motors will recall more than 400,000 2011 and 2012 model Chevrolet Cruzes in the United States because of an engine shield flaw that could trap engine oil or hydraulic fluid and lead to a fire. The recall affects 413,418 Cruzes built in Lordstown, Ohio, and sold in the U.S. and Canada, along with several hundred exported to Israel. Improper engine oil change procedures on these vehicles can result in the spilling or dropping of oil, GM said in a statement. If oil contacts hot engine or...