Synthetic lubricant demand in Southeast Asia will increase by 3.5 percent annually through 2008, a new study projects. It adds, however, that major oil companies are best-positioned to take advantage of the growth. The Southeast Asian Synthetic Lubricants Market Report, by the Chemicals Group of Frost & Sullivan, estimates that the five-nation region consumed $819 million of synthetic lubes last year and that the level will rise to $1.04 billion by 2008. According to the London-based firm, t...

Second quarter financial reports from the lubricants industry continued to roll out the past week. Pennzoil-Quaker State reported that earnings were up sharply from the same period of 2001. Milacron Inc. put a positive spin on lower earnings for its metalworking fluids and tools business. Sunoco reported a sharp increase in volume of base oil sales. The report from Pennzoil-Quaker State Co. may be its last quarterly statement. If so, the Houston company is going out on a high note, announcing a ...

Seeing opportunity in the continuing consolidation of the lubes industry, BP Lubricants has announced a campaign to grab a bigger share of the U.S. market. Officials say the initiative will focus on increasing sales in the general industrial segment but will not involve BPs Castrol brand. Officials at BP North Americas Baltimore, Md., headquarters acknowledged that the companys business in the United States is not as large as one might expect from the worlds third-largest oil company. Obviously,...