Swedish grease maker Axel Christiernsson International AB announced last week that it has reached an agreement to acquire Shells Christol Grease SAS. Axel officials said the deal is consistent with the companys goal of being one of Western Europes largest grease producers. It is our objective to be the leading and first choice supplier of customised lubricating grease solutions, Axel Managing Director Johan Stureson said. With the combined resources of Axel and Christol we will now be even bette...

OAO LukOil has reached an agreement to supply lubricants and fuels to Russias largest passenger car manufacturer, OAO Avtovaz, the companies announced this month. Officials said the companies will also cooperate with other organizations to raise the quality of lubricants and fluids used in the country. According to a July 6 statement, the deal calls for Avtovaz to use LukOil lubes, fuel and specialty liquids for factory fill and to advise customers and service stations to use LukOil oils for aft...

Valero Energy Corp. has reconsidered an earlier plan to close its Paulsboro, N.J., base oil plant as early as 2007. According to market sources, the company is telling customers it now plans to operate the 11,500-barrel-per-day facility through 2009 and perhaps beyond. The new stance was attributed, at least in part, to Valeros purchase of four refineries from Premcor Inc. last year, including one at Delaware City, Del., just 35 miles from Paulsboro. Management believes the Delaware City refiner...

Chinas burgeoning economy is producing more goods and people for trucks and buses to carry, and that should open the way to greater opportunity for marketers of heavy duty motor oils. That is the conclusion of a new study from Kline and Co. In a statement released last week, the consulting firm said Chinese demand for on-highway commercial automotive lubricants is growing 10 percent annually and will continue to do so for the next five years. The firm, which is based in Little Falls, N.J., also ...