Volume 3 Issue 66

Sasol Chevron Mulls GTL Base Oils

Sasol and Qatar Petroleum announced last month that they are considering an expansion of the Oryx gas-to-liquids refinery now under construction in Ras Laffan, Qatar, and that base oils may become part of that project. Depending on the outcome of their examination, the project could become the worlds first large-scale supplier of GTL base stocks. The companies made their announcements during a March 23 signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar. Sasol also indicated that its place will now be assumed by jo...

Slippage Seen Again in Lube Sales

Lubricant sales volumes in the United States were 4.3 percent lower in 2003 than in 2002, according to preliminary estimates released last week by the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association. The Quarterly Index of Lubricant Sales, distributed March 31, showed that sales volumes for the fourth quarter of 2003 were down 3 percent from the fourth quarter of 2002, meaning that demand for each quarter of 2003 was lower on a year-to-year basis. Full-year sales for 2003 were 11.5 percent less ...

Small Towns = Smaller Quick-lube Profits

Quick lubes may be moving into small-town America, but assumptions about them offering less profitability are turning out to be true. That was the conclusion of a survey published recently by National Oil and Lube News. Profit margins were 45 percent higher at urban quick lubes, survey results showed,thanks to higher customer traffic and bigger ticket prices. NOLN Editor Garrett McKinnon said the magazine was able to conduct the comparison because a significant number of quick lubes have been bu...

Curtiss-Wright Back for Third Bite

Curtiss-Wright Corp., a provider of metal treatment products and services, announced last week that it has bought the Everlube Products Division of Morgan Advanced Ceramics Inc. for $6.4 million. The deal marked Curtiss-Wrights third coatings acquisition from Morgan in just over a year. Everlube manufactures solid-film lubricants and other specialty coatings for high-performance, niche applications. As with the other two transactions, Curtiss-Wright officials said the Everlube pickup will divers...