Grease production in China saw a dramatic 71.5 percent increase from 2005 to 2006, according to NLGIs latest grease production survey, leading a worldwide increase of 17 percent. Reported production in the Peoples Republic of China totaled 510 million pounds last year – almost a quarter of the worlds total production of 2.1 billion pounds – up from 297 million pounds in 2005. Production of lithium soap greases in China rose from 80 percent of the total to more than 86 percent from 20...

Demand for highly refined base stocks is on the rise, and a variety of expansions and new plants – coming onstream this year and next – should greatly expand global capacity for API Group II and Group III, according to LubesnGreases new 2007 Guide to Global Base Oil Refining. A 22-by-33-inch wall chart developed in cooperation with British consulting firm Pathmaster Marketing Ltd., the 2007 guide includes data on nearly 170 plants, listing location and capacity by grade. This yearsg...

Israel Chemicals Ltd. last week announced plans to acquire Supresta LLC for $352 million in cash, uniting two companies whose chemical specialties include products for fire safety. New York-headquartered Suprestas offerings include the Syn-O-Ad line of lubricant additives and Fyrquel products that consist of triaryl phosphate esters used as fire resistant hydraulic fluids. Supresta in early June announced it would increase list prices 4 to 5 percent on selected products – including the Syn...

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Benchmark crudes price has climbed 230 percent since the end of 2001, and Asia has both been a cause andfelt the effect of this extraordinary run up. High oil prices – think mid-$80s a barrel – and volatility are likely to continue, Asia will remain an important influence on price behavior, and turbulent energy markets mean turbulent base oil markets. Ravi Bala, director and head of marketing and origination commodities at Citicorp Investment Bank in Si...

BASF on Thursday announced that effective immediately, or as existing contracts allow, it will raise its prices for ethanoloamines, ethyleaneamines and isopropanolamines worldwide by 50 to 100 (U.S. $60 to $130) per metric ton. The company did not cite a specific reason for the latest price increase. Last November, BASF raised the prices by 100 (U.S. $130), citing increased costs for raw materials as well as costs for energy and logistics. The products are intermediates used in the manufacture...