Volume 15 Issue 24

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

U.S. activity picked up again, causing some freights to stiffen. Europe has been steady overall, with both some small gains and some minor decreases on certain routes, and Asia also seems unchanged. Americas Routes to Europe are still some of the strongest out of the U.S. these days. The level of demand has far surpassed the amount of open space and so freight rates have continued to strengthen. Styrene has been one of the most active commodities, but there have also been parcels of glycol, phen...

Import Rules Chafe in Turkey

Turkeys lubricant companies and their base oil suppliers were disappointed by the inconclusive outcome of the countrys parliamentary elections last week. The introduction last year of complex regulations designed to stop the illegal adulteration of automotive fuel has imposed significant cost and complexity on the lubes sector, and the election results makes it unlikely the rules will be changed soon. The countrys lubricant industry has complained since January 2014 when the government introduce...

U.S. Wax Demand to Top $3 Billion in 2019

U.S. demand for waxes will grow 1.8 percent per year by value, to $3.2 billion in 2019, supported by continued growth in manufacturing and residential construction activity, Freedonia Group forecasted. The industry market research firm said the supply and market share of different wax types will remain dynamic as changes in the global petroleum refining industry impact the supply and pricing of petroleum derived waxes, as crude oil and natural gas prices impact investment in new capacity for syn...

Rebound Forecast for Russian Auto Lubes

MOSCOW – Russias automotive lubricant market is expected to grow around 12 percent by 2020, driven by increased passenger car sales that should push the countrys on-road automobile fleet above 51 million units, a market analyst told a recent industry conference. According to a study conducted by the Moscow-based Russian Automotive Market Research, the country consumed 904 million liters of light- and heavy-duty engine oils in 2014. We are expecting the market for these categories to grow t...

Angus Chemical Plans Next Moves

DALLAS – Angus Chemical Co., which Dow Chemical divested on Feb. 3, is preparing to launch a new extended-life, multifunctional amino alcohol for use in metalworking fluids in the years second half, one of the first products from a pipeline that is being recharged under new ownership, said Michael D. Lewis, the companys business vice president. Golden Gate Capital paid over $1.2 billion for the global nitroalkanes and derivatives manufacturer, and took possession of a slate of primary and ...

Gulf, Q8Oils Align in Europe

Gulf Oil International Ltd. said it is tying up with Q8Oils to supply finished lubricants in Europe. The companies did not disclose the exact nature of their alliance but said that Gulfs lubricants would be produced at Q8Oils blending plant in Antwerp, Belgium. The new supply company will enable us to work much more closely with our customer network, Gulf Oil International Vice President of Operations and Production Tobias Tasche said in a written statement. Q8Oils declined to comment, citing a ...

Webster Assumes STLE Presidency

DALLAS – Martin Webster began his 2015-2016 term as president of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers at its annual meeting and exhibition here May 17-21. Webster is senior research associate for ExxonMobil Research & Engineering in Annandale, N.J. He succeeds 2014-2015 STLE President Maureen Hunter, technical service manager for King Industries Inc. in Norwalk, Conn. Martin joined STLE in 1989 and has been an active volunteer and dedicated leader, Hunter told the STL...

Briefly Noted

Maxxam Analytics of Canada opened a testing facility in Edmonton, Alberta, to provide lubricant and oil analysis services. TPC Groups Chairman and CEO Michael McDonnell announced his resignation last week. Effective Monday, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Miguel Desdin has been appointed interim CEO. Solvaybegan production at its two new alkylation facilities in Moerdijk, the Netherlands, and Singapore last week. Alkoxylate surfactants can be used as emulsifiers, detergents and wetting agents in lubricants.