Volume 14 Issue 50

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

The U.S. is developing a much tighter space situation through improved demand. Europe has been busy as well, and some routes are noticing a slight upward trend in freight. Asia, however, has come off the boil. U.S. Gulf There has at last been some kind of year-end push across the majority of U.S. trade lanes. U.S. Gulf-to-Far East, for example, has only small amounts of space left for December loading, yet there are still quite a few cargoes left uncovered, including 10,000 tons of paraxylene, 1...

Tatnefts Taneco Launches Group II/III

Tatneft started commercial production of API Group II and III base oils at its refinery in Nizhnekamsk, Russia, the company told Lube Report last week. On Dec. 1, Tatneft produced the first marketable batches of its Euro 5 diesel fuel, kerosene and Group II/III base oil products, the production of which was made possible by the installation of a hydrocracking unit. The opening ceremony was attended by government and company officials such as Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Tatarstan Pres...

N.J. Bans 19 Motor Oils

A New Jersey government agency issued a statewide ban Thursday on 19 motor oils, saying a state-contracted lab found each failed to conform to the viscosity promised on its label. State Office of Weights and Measures Acting Superintendent Howard Pine issued a stop-use and removal order Dec. 4 ordering all New Jersey establishments to immediately remove the 19 banned motor oil products from their store shelves or other product displays, and to stop selling or using them. Businesses that fail to c...

Group I Supply Worries Arise in Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – While Africas base oil market remains focused on API Group I base oil, it is not immune to pressure caused by the worlds oversupply of Group II oils. That was the conclusion of panelists at the ICIS African Base Oils and Lubricants Conference held here in early November. The panel topic was The Bigger Picture: Assessing Group I Base Oil Supply on a Global Level. Participants included John Fitton, director of technical services for CPS Chemical; Nicholas Gill, seni...

Lubrizol Upgrades Texas Blending Plant

Lubrizol Corp. said it is wrapping up $65 million in investments aimed at expanding and improving efficiency at its lubricant additive blending plant in Deer Park, Texas. The investment includes $28 million for installation of more chemical component storage tanks, automated piggable component manifolds and additional capability in the automated in-line blending technology. The Wickliffe, Ohio-based company also spent $37 million on improvements to railcar loading and unloading facilities and ha...

Vertex Completes Heartland Acquisition

Vertex Energy Inc. closed on its acquisition of Heartland Group Holdings – a used oil collection network and rerefinery in Columbus, Ohio – for $16.5 million in common stock. In addition, Vertex CEO Benjamin P. Cowart purchased $1.5 million in the companies common stock. The Houston, Texas-based oil recycling and rerefining firm announced yesterday that its acquisition of the Heartland rerefinery, which has 1,500 barrels per day of API Group II base oil production capacity and 16 mil...

Briefly Noted

Eastman Aviation Solutions switched all of its newly acquired BP Turbo Oil aviation turbine oils to the Eastman Turbo Oil brand name. Fort Worth, Texas-based Pilot Thomas Logistic – formed via the merger of Pilot Logistics Services and Thomas Petroleum – will provide lubricants, fuels and chemicals to the North American energy, mining and marine industries. Amyris appointed Raffi Asadroan chief financial officer effective Jan. 6, and said interim CFO Paulo Diniz will transition to a new role as chairman of subsidiary Amyris Brasil.