Although some trade lanes appear tight on vessel space, overall demand for space is still subdued following the end of the summer vacations and poor economic fundamentals. U.S. Gulf The shipping market gives the appearance of being quiet, yet space is tight for the next two weeks on some specific trade lanes which may see freights go up should demand be further stimulated. U.S. Gulf to Far East is looking tight for September due to heavy contractual nominations which has seen freight rates fo...

WICHITA, Kan. – Jan Horsfall, formerly Universal Lubricants chief marketing officer, has been appointed the companys new CEO, succeeding John Wesley. Coming from Colorado Springs, Colo., Horsfall joined Universal in the fall of 2012 with a background in startup enterprises and technology companies. He was also with Valvoline for 12 years early in his career, which culminated in his role as the vice president of consumer brand strategy. Horsfall promises to bring an entrepreneurial, tech-...

Haver Filling Systems is expanding its warehouse in Conyers, Ga., to increase production capacity so it can meet growing demand for its German-engineered packaging and filling machines. The expansion will add 4,300 square feet to the existing 14,000 square foot assembly warehouse, and Haver expects it to be completed by the end of 2013. In addition to accommodating growing demand, the larger facility will help accommodate assembly of additional product lines that Haver offers. The company assem...

Lubricants production in Russia is expected to grow 2 to 3 percent by 2016, driven by automotive and industrial growth, introduction of higher quality oils and increased petroleum production, a market study found. Russias economy and its federal budget have always relied on its crude and petrochemicals production, the Moscow-based Discovery Research Group (DRG) found in its recent study, Market Analysis of Petroleum Oils in Russia: Motor, Industrial and Transmission Oils. An integral part of t...

Shell Lubricants notified customers that prices for finished lubricants will increase by up to 4 percent, effective Sept. 23. In general, this will translate into an increase of 24 cents/gallon for bulk products and 40 cents/gallon for packaged products, Shell stated in its Aug. 19 letter to customers. This adjustment is due in part to increasing costs of raw materials used in the production and delivery of our products. In its letter, the company said that in certain instances, the effective ...

Chemtura Corp. has begun the commissioning process of its new polyalphaolefin plant in Ankerweg, Netherlands, and almost simultaneously has started up a grease plant in Nantong, China. Our Nantong lubricating grease plant started production last week, and made its first batch of calcium sulfonate complex grease, Simon D. Medley, president and general manager of Chemtura’s Petroleum Additives business, told Lube Report on Monday. The facility, located about 80 miles northwest of Shanghai, ...

The American Petroleum Institute is suing Bullseye Lubricants for alleged counterfeiting, trademark infringement, trademark dilution, false advertising, and unfair competition. The complaint was filed last month in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, against Bullseye Lubricants, in association with Bullseye Automotive Products, Inc. and company president Carlos Silva, as a seller of motor oil based in Chicago Ridge, Ill. Lube Report was not able to reach Bullseye officials...