U.S. base oil production in the first half of the year sank to its lowest level in more than two decades — the worst volume, in fact, since 1983, according to recent data from the Department of Energy. Refinery output of base oils in the year’s first six months totaled just 25.3 million barrels, versus 32.8 million barrels in the first half of 2008. Not since the deep recession of 1983, when first-half output plunged to 25.2 million barrels, has U.S. base oil production reached such...

If were really lucky, the 2009 U.S. hurricane season will be a dud, but this industry hasnt taken any chances. Hurricane preparation is a year-round exercise. In its August update, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it expected a near- to below-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year. Scientists emphasized that the seasons quiet start does not guarantee quiet times ahead. The season, which began June 1,typically peaks from August through October. Products Rob Sorge, She...

Castrol last week launched a novel advertising campaign in the United Kingdom that used a national vehicle registration database and automatic cameras to generate personal billboard messages advising motorists what Castrol-branded engine oil to use. The company quickly suspended the campaign, however, after the government agency that is the source of the database raised concerns about the way in which it was used. The program involved five digital billboards located along key streets around Lo...

Shell last week agreed to sell most of its downstream Greek activities, including its lubricant blending plant in Perama, 700 service stations, depots, liquefied petroleum gas, and other businesses, to Motor Oil (Hellas) for 245.6 million (U.S. $357.1 million), and separately sold its lubricant sales and marketing business to Petros Petropoulos. The deals are subject to competition authority approvals and are consistent with [Shells] strategy to concentrate its global downstream portfolio, Shel...

Prista Oil Holding has joined the Sealub Alliance network of marine lubricant suppliers formed last year by Gulf Oil Marine, expanding the networks coverage to more than 700 ports in 50 countries. Prista, headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, will have exclusive rights to produce and supply Sealub Alliance marine lubricant products and services in Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Turkey. This marine partnership with Prista Oil in the strategic area of the Black Sea, combined with our other partners...

On Friday, a massive six-hour fire destroyed a lubricant facility in Ajman, U.A.E., belonging to Henkel International Lubricant Industry, according to local news reports. That company is unrelated to multinational chemical and lubricant manufacturer Henkel AG, which said it is reviewing legal steps against use of its name. According to The National Newspaper, the Ajman fire started about 1 p.m. Friday and destroyed Henkel International Lubricant Industrys lubricant warehouse and a metalworking ...

Two optimistic entrepreneurs have launched Forgelube, an independent manufacturer of process and forging lubricants, in Monterrey, Mexico. Oscar Lozano Butzmann and Gustavo G. Schiuma are managing directors and fifty-fifty owners of the new company, which is already blending its own products, marketed under the Lubrika and Rollfor brands. Butzmann joined the lubricants industry in 1986 when he started at Lubdeco SA. From 2000 to earlier this year he was CEO of Lubdeco. Schiuma joined Acheson ...

The spot market enjoyed a busier week in terms of cargoes quoted, but the overhang of tonnage, especially in Europe and the United States, means that there are still ships left behind without work. Possibly the most successful of regions has been Middle East Gulf to India, where demand continues to recover. U.S. Gulf of Mexico There has been a fresh injection of aromatics cargoes from the U.S. Gulf to Northwest Europe, but it has not been sufficient to stop rates from sliding by another couple ...