The U.S. is active with a lot of demand, few ships and rising freight rates, and Europe is bobbing along nicely, too. Asia, however, is subdued apart from the Middle East Gulf and India. U.S. Gulf U.S. Gulf-to-Far East has been quick to shrug off the lethargy caused by the Golden Week celebrations in Japan, and as soon as delegates began returning from the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference 2015 meeting that took place in Seoul, South Korea, last week, business started ramping up. May space ...

Ukraines lubricant consumption nose-dived up to 30 percent since the armed conflict in the eastern part of the country began earlier last year, sources knowledgeable about the market told Lube Report. Ukraine is normally among the top 10 lubricant consumers in Europe, and estimates about the size of its lubricants market vary widely. Before the outbreak of hostilities, the country consumed approximately 350,000 to 400,000 metric tons annually. German lube maker Fuchs Petrolub pegged Ukraines tot...

The first quarter saw a rebound in net income for Calumet, increased revenue for rerefiner Heritage-Crystal Cleans oil business segment, and reduced third-party revenues for Clean Harbors oil rerefining and recycling business segment, all compared to the same period of 2014. Calumet Calumet Specialty Products Partners L.P. reported net income of $23.8 million for the first quarter, up from a $49.8 million net loss in 2014s first quarter. The Indianapolis-based companys first quarter sales slid t...

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Takreers first base oil plant has taken longer than intended to build, and it has also grown in size. The refining arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. plans to open its base oil plant in Ruwais, United Arab Emirates, by September, an official told the ICIS Middle East Base Oils & Lubricants Conference here last month. Adnocs Ahmed Saleh Al Hamed also said that the designed capacity for the facility is now 620,000 metric tons per year – 25 percent h...

BASF purchased Lanxess intellectual property for a new manufacturing process for high molecular weight PIB, which is used in lubricants. Financial terms were not disclosed. On behalf of BASF, Lanxess will exclusively manufacture a new high molecular PIB for BASF in existing production facilities under a long term toll blending agreement. BASF will market the products under the product name Oppanol N, according to the May 11 joint announcement. HM PIB is used in a broad range of applications and ...

Vertex Energy announced that it began leasing the Bango Oil base oil rerefinery in Fallon, Nev. this month. The Houston-based rerefiner said its original agreement to purchase the lease of the Bango Oil base oil rerefinery in Fallon, Nev., from Omega Holdings Co., was held up due to the latters inability to meet closing conditions. Upon signing a lease through August 2025, Vertex began renting the 40-acre site, which includes an approximately 1,400 barrels per day API Group II base oil plant, fr...