Despite August being a period when business could usually be expected to thin out due to the holiday season, there has only been a small reduction in global shipping volumes so far. Americas In common with almost all the main routes out of the U.S., there is hardly any remaining August space going to Europe, which has many charterers wondering how they will cover their requirements. A trader is looking to ship 1,500 tons of base oils from Houston to Antwerp within August, but even finding space ...

A Nigerian union of tanker drivers recently raised charges for transportation of base oils, causing a tiff between drivers and lubricant blenders. Until now, drivers with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union charged 20 kobo (100 kobo constitute one Nigerian naira) per liter on a 33,000-liter tanker of base oil, amounting to 6,600 naira (U.S. $33) per tanker. Now the drivers are demanding one naira per liter, which increase total charges to 33,000 naira per tanker. We were giving them 20 kobo befor...

Calumet Specialty Products Partners and Milacrons Industrial Fluids segment reported improved profits, while Clean Harbors oil rerefining and recycling business saw reduced third-party revenues in the second quarter, compared to 2014s second quarter. Calumet Calumet Specialty Products Partners L.P. posted net income of $2.5 million for the quarter ending June 30, compared to a net loss of $8.3 million in 2014s second quarter. The Indianapolis-based companys second quarter sales reached $1.1 bill...

Ukrainian authorities thwarted an organized group in the Rivne Oblast that had allegedly been making and selling fake motor oils under the labels of popular engine oil brands, the nations Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a recent press release. Local police arrested two residents of the city of Rivne, in western Ukraine, accused of selling fake lubricants in counterfeit canisters. During the investigation, law enforcement officers in plain clothes bought several samples of the counterfeited ...

Petro-Canada Lubricants announced Aug. 5 it is expanding its distribution in Europe to improve the availability of bulk products. Now our customers will have expanded access and improved delivery timing with bulk delivery, Martin Wright, managing director for Petro-Canada Lubricants Europe, said in a news release. The company said it has been operating in Europe for many years with its own sales team and a network of distributors, and that its announcement demonstrates its continued commitment t...

Tide Water Oil Co. (India) is gearing up to enter South African and Sudanese markets with its Veedol automotive lubricants, license sales of its products in Bangladesh, and relaunch the brand in the Americas through a new wholly-owned subsidiary. Kolkata-based Tide Water has selected a marketing licensee for both North American and South American markets, in the form of a wholly-owned subsidiary. A company spokesman told Lube Report that it has also appointed a tolling and blending agent in Cana...