Adrian Brown is away this week.

ExxonMobil last week announced completion of its Baytown, Texas, refinery expansion, which will increase production of its API Group II and II+ base stocks. The company is also introducing a new 6.5 centiStoke Group II base stock for blending heavy-duty engine oils. The investment was originally announced in early 2013. The company did not disclose the specific amount of increased capacity. LubesnGreasesmagazine estimated that the Baytown expansion has added at least 7,000 barrels per day Group ...

Fuchs Petrolub, Ashlands Valvoline segment and BPs lubricants business each reported higher profits for the quarter ending March 31, while profits for SK Lubricants and Quaker Chemical, along with Chemturas petroleum additives net sales, were down for the quarter, compared to year-earlier numbers. Fuchs Fuchs Petrolub Group posted net income of 56.8 million (U.S. $63.3 million) for the first quarter, up 7.6 percent from 52.8 million in the year-earlier quarter. The independent lubricant blenders...

Specialty chemical manufacturer Croda International Plc. is beginning construction of a plant that will produce non-ionic surfactants at its manufacturing facility in New Castle, Del. The Snaith, United Kingdom-based company, which makes chemicals mostly from plant and animal ingredients, said it is undertaking the $170 million project because of growing interest in both renewable materials and products that improve fuel efficiency. The demand for the products that could utilize this technology ...

Nigerian lubricant producer Conoil will invest 5 billion naira (U.S. $2.5 million) on an additional blending plant in Lagos, with capacity of 60,000 metric tons per year, intended for the Nigerian market. The Lagos-headquarted company already owns a 40,000 t/y plant in Apapa, Lagos, but aims to significantly increase its engine oil production capacity. This will put the company in good stead to take huge advantage of the projected growth in the domestic lubricant market and invariably skyrocket ...

Lube Report Asia has completed its first audit by BPA Worldwide, an achievement that validates the authenticity of its subscriber list. Publishers of print and online news sources may volunteer to have their subscriber lists audited as a way of proving to advertisers that individuals receiving their publications have requested them. In todays ultra-competitive marketplace, transparency and trust have never been more important; which is why Lube Report Asia chose to have its circulation verified ...