While car counts continued to decline at U.S. quick lube facilities, down by 1.5 cars per day from 2008 to an average 32.4 cars per day this year, the average ticket increased 2.5 percent to $52.04 and average yearly sales per store also rose, according to National Oil & Lube News 2009 Fast Lube Operators survey. Certainly car counts are down, and thats always an issue and has been for many years, NOLN Editor Garrett McKinnon told Lube Report, while noting that ticket averages, overall sale...

Chevron will exit the lubricants market in India next month, the company confirmed in a statement provided to Lube Report yesterday. An industry consultant cited the intense competition in Indias market as a likely factor in the decision. The decision was taken following a review of our business for sustainable growth and is aligned with Chevrons global strategy of portfolio optimization, the company said. Chevron sees India as having strategic importance in the world energy market and will con...

South Africas Blue Chip Lubricants has plans to establish a chain of franchise outlets – combination retail stores and distribution centers – the first of its kind in the domestic lubes market. Officials said they aim to open four outlets within a year and eventually to expand to 12. Blue Chip co-owner Gary Marais said the company, which is based in Kya Sand, South Africa, chose the franchise route to expansion after meeting with a franchising consultant. Our initial reaction was t...

Lubrizol on Monday raised its earnings guidance for 2009 to a range of $6.10 to $6.40 per diluted share, which the additives manufacturer said reflected improving volume trends in the current quarter as well as maintenance of its cost reduction initiatives. The companys prior earnings guidance, last updated July 30, was in the range of $5.70 to $6 per diluted share. For the second quarter ending June 30, Lubrizols additives segment reported operating income of $221.2 million, up 81 percent fro...

Arkema has raised its prices for oxygenated solvents in Europe, Kraton Polymers will hike prices in the Asia Pacific for polymers used in lubricants, and Oxea plans to increase its prices in several regions for carboxylic acids and polyols used in lubricants. Colombes, France-based Arkema last week announced that effective Sept. 10, or as contracts allow, it increased the price of its oxygenated solvents in Europe by 100 per metric ton. This price adjustment is necessary to offset the increase ...

Only the market in Asia is able to display any strength this week. All other areas are lacking in spot business, and we see freight rates continuing to decline in both the United States and Europe. U.S. Gulf of Mexico Further misery has been heaped on ship owners with ships open in the U.S. Gulf. Routes such as those down to South America have been pitifully short of spot business, and there is open space on both prompt and end-September sailings. With so much open space it is unsurprising to ...