U.S. markets continue to look lively, particularly towards Asia. European coastal markets are depressed but the deep-sea routes are generating some business. Asia looks to be in a holiday mood. U.S. Gulf It has been another week of strong demand on the U.S. Gulf to Far East route. Styrene has been the main commodity in contention, with at least 20,000 metric tons booked so far and with a further 30,000-35,000 tons looking to ship still within August. Vessel availability has become an importan...

A Nizhny Novgorod oblast, Russia, prosecutor indicted seven operators of a flush steamer unit at a railway station in Kstovo, charging them with theft of a 60-ton base oil tank carriage earlier this year. In January the nearby Lukoil refinery mistakenly dispatched an oil tank to the Zeletsino railroad station, according to the prosecutors investigation. Although the tank carriage was supposed to be empty, it instead arrived at the station sealed [for security] and loaded with 60 tons of SN-150 b...

NewMarket’s subsidiary Afton Chemical, Fuchs Petrolub, Chemtura and Neste Oil each recently issued quarterly earnings reports. Afton Chemical Sales for NewMarkets Afton Chemical subsidiary reached $581.3 million in the quarter ending June 30, down less than 1 percent from $584.2 million in the year earlier period. Operating profit for the additives segment reached $97.8 million, down 1 percent from $96.9 million in 2012s second quarter. The company said it still expected its petroleum ad...

Chevron USA pleaded no contest to six charges in a criminal complaint by California state and local authorities related to the Aug. 6, 2012, fire at its Richmond refinery and will pay $2 million. Chevron USA pled no contest to six charges related to California labor code, and health and safety code violations in a criminal complaint by state and local authorities over an Aug. 6, 2012, fire at its Richmond refinery. Chevron was convicted of violating the states labor code by, among other things...

In forecasting lube oil demand, Cleveland-based Freedonia Group’s World Lubricants study illuminates a tug-of-war between two trends: Expanding manufacturing output and vehicle ownership rates support growing volumes in developing regions such as Asia, Eastern Europe, South America, Africa, and the Middle East, while higher-efficiency products restrain demand volumes in the mature markets of North America and Western Europe. The study found that global demand for lubricants will increase ...

A train derailed in St. Landry Parish, La., Aug. 4, leaking lube oils, a fatty alcohol used in lubricant additives and other materials. On its way from Lake Charles to Livonia, the train derailed at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 4 near a subdivision between Lawtell and Opelousas, La., according to an emergency declaration by Gov. Bobby Jindal (R). Of the 76 railcars and two locomotives, 23 railcars derailed. Fourteen of the 23 derailed cars contain regulated products, Gov. Jindal said in a news release updat...

Petroleum wax made up just 73 percent of global wax supply in 2012, down from 90 percent in 2002, as API Group I capacity continues to slide, and synthetic and natural waxes make market inroads. Petroleum wax is produced primarily as by product from manufacturing of Group I base stocks. The supply of Group I base stocks is declining due to technical obsolescence and also due to increased competition from higher performance Group II and Group III base stocks, said Milind Phadke, a director in co...