European coastal markets have been very active, and Asian markets have been steadily improving too. The U.S. is mixed – some routes see better demand while others lack sparkle. U.S. Gulf Demand for styrene has surged in Europe due to some upcoming plant turnarounds, keeping transatlantic rates strong. The last couple of fixtures have been in the low $50s/per metric ton, but space on scheduled tonnage is tight for the balance of the month and owners are calling it mid $50s/t from now on. No...

LONDON – Initial estimates by lubricants manufacturer Fuchs Petrolub have put global lubricants demand at 35.4 million metric tons in 2014. While thats a small step above 35.3 million tons in 2013 and 35.0 million in 2012, the companys Apu Gosalia reports the worlds need for lubricants has barely budged from what it was back in 2000, even as key user industries have expanded. At the recent ICIS World Base Oils & Lubricants Conference, Gosalia, head of global competitive intelligence a...

An Oregon state legislator introduced a bill last week that would require all state construction projects to use biodegradable lubricants, then quickly withdrew it due to a conflict of interest. One of its backers, Sen. Chip Shields (D-Portland), is a lubricants salesman for Schaeffer Manufacturing. Last week, Rep. Lew Frederick (D-Portland) introduced House Bill 3052, which would require biodegradable lubricants in all public construction projects. In doing so, Frederick noted that the bill was...

Global microcrystalline wax and petrolatum demand are both expected to outstrip supply through 2019, creating a shortage in each case, consultancy Kline & Co. projected. In the face of a shrinking supply of microcrystalline waxes and petrolatum, and on other hand, growing demand and penetration of alternative materials, it will suddenly be very interesting to know how this industry shapes up in the near future, Pooja Sharma, a project lead in Klines energy practice, concluded during an onli...

Heritage-Crystal Cleans oil business segment posted $49.7 million in revenues for its fourth fiscal quarter ending Jan. 3, up 18.4 percent from $42 million a year earlier. During fiscal 2014, oil business segment revenues reached $149.3 million, up 18.6 percent from $125.9 million the previous year, reflecting increased volume of sales at its Indianapolis rerefinery and revenues from its $90 million acquisition of used oil collector FCC Environmental in October 2014. Elgin, Ill.-based parts clea...

Russian lube maker LLK International landed a supply deal in the countrys Far East region, while Gazpromneft-Lubricants opened its first fast lube change store in Belarus. LLK started shipments of its finished products to Primavtodor, one of the largest road construction companies in Primorsky krai (Primorye) of Russias Far East. The lube major pledged to ship 400 tons of lubricants by the end of 2015. The shipment includes Lukoils Avangard and Geyser-branded engine, transmission, hydraulic and ...