Lubricant packaging innovations may be few and far between, but Shell Oil Co. believes it has one for its Pennzoil brand: handles designed to ease the use of quart-sized bottles. Developed for Pennzoil synthetic and synthetic blend products, the bottles with easy-grip handles were supposed to hit store shelves within the past few weeks. Pennzoil officials said the handles will make it more convenient for consumers to pick up five or six quarts at the store, and make it easier for them to add oil...

Fuchs Petrolub AG reported last week that its net income for the first three quarters of 2002 increased 153 percent over the same period of 2001, driven largely by increased sales in Europe. The Mannheim, Germany, company – the worlds largest independent lubricant producer – said it was especially pleased with the results, given the doldrums of the lubricant industry. It estimates that worldwide lube consumption is up 0.5 percent in 2002, after falling 2.4 percent last year. Net inco...

Fresh from upgrading two of its base oil refineries, Russian petroleum giant Lukoil has adopted a 6 billion ruble (U.S. $188 million) plan to grow its lubricants business up to 10 percent annually through 2010. History suggests that a significant amount of the increased production will be marketed in nearby countries, although management says it will consider building blending plants in neighboring and faraway countries. Lukoil is Russias biggest oil refiner, as well as its biggest lubricant pro...