Space remains elusive in the U.S. Gulf, keeping rates firm on virtually all routes. Europes durable demand has amazed most observers, although its starting to crack in places. Some Asian routes have also been a bit slower. U.S. Styrene traders have flicked their attention over to Asia instead of Europe and all of a sudden a small amount of prompt space has opened up, which a couple of owners have interpreted as a signal to become slightly less bullish on their freight ideas. Rates for prompt 5,0...

A Montana distributor settled a lawsuit in which Chevron claimed the company sold Chevron products without authorization and under counterfeit trademarks – accusations which the distributor still denies. Chevron, Cross Petroleum Service and its company president reached a stipulated consent judgement May 18 in the U.S. District court for the District of Montana. Under the settlement, Cross agreed to refrain from any use of Chevrons registered trademarks or marketing of itself as an authori...

MOSCOW – Russia earlier this year implemented a federal law mandating treatment and recycling of various wastes, including used lubricants. Russian president Vladimir Putin signed the regulation into law on Dec. 29, 2014, and it went into effect Jan. 1. In the lubes industry, the law encourages producers to manage the life cycle of finished products. However, industry insiders said the law lacks elements that would make it effective, such as the volume of the used goods intended for recycl...

Calumet Specialty Products and MDU Resources Group marked the completion of their Dakota Prairie diesel fuels refinery this week, noting that its output includes about 6,000 barrels per day of residual tower bottoms that may be used as feedstock for base oil. The partnership completed its first commercial production run on May 4 from the Dickinson, N.D., refinery, which is the countrys first greenfield fuels refinery since 1976. The joint venture between Calumet and MDU Resources Group has capac...

JOHANNESBURG – African lube markets will resist shifting from API Group I to Group II base stocks because of formulation challenges and lack of consumer education, speakers told an industry conference here last week. The panel discussion took place during the Argus Africa Base Oils and Lubricants Conference on June 24. Mary Mwangi, special projects manager for lubricants blender and distributor KenolKobil of Kenya, identified the reliance on additive suppliers for formulation as a critical...

Michigan-based Vesco Oil Corp., one of the largest distributors in the United States of ExxonMobil and Valvoline-branded lubricants, acquired Ohio distributor Britsch Inc. The transaction will expand Southfield, Mich.-based Vesco Oils geographic footprint in Ohio and Michigan, Vesco stated in a news release. Vesco also operates in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Indiana. In the past five years, Vesco Oil has expanded its business by adding distribution centers in Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio,...