The latest report on base oil refining capacity in the United States shows changes at a number of plants in the past year and indicates that capacity for premium stocks now exceeds Group I. The most interesting number, however, is one that did not change: the capacity listed for Motivas plant at Port Arthur, Texas. Officials acknowledged last year that Port Arthurs output grew after it changed catalyst material during a maintenance turnaround in the first quarter of 2004. Before that, the compan...

BEIJING – Chinas two top lubricant companies claim 60 percent of that countrys growing lube market, and theyre gearing up to take even more market share from the multinational brands and smaller local players. At the same time, the multinationals will advertise their lubes heavily, to build brand awareness in advance of the 2007 opening of Chinas gasoline and diesel fuel market. Song YunChang, general manager of Sinopec Lubricant Co., told last weeks Fuels & Lubes Asia conference here ...

Crompton Corp. on Thursday announced an agreement to sell its Refined Products business – a leading producer of white oils and petrolatums – to Sun Capital Partners Group Inc., a private investment firm based in Boca Raton, Fla. Although the transaction includes a Dutch plant that makes sodium sulfonates, Crompton said it signed a long-term agreement to keep control of that business. The deal calls for Sun Capital to pay $80 million for Refined Products, a unit that recorded revenues...

SAN FRANCISCO – Crude oil prices may be at record highs, but they could very well go higher still – quite a bit higher. That was the message heard here last week by the refining industrys biggest trade group. Speakers at the annual meeting of the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association told members that plenty of oil and other fossil fuels are available to meet the worlds growing energy needs. But they also argued that the ability to refine those fuels is being held back by e...