The Verification of Lubricant Specifications, an independent United Kingdom-based lubricants trade body, introduced new rules for assessing marketing claims found on lubricants packaging.

Previously, if a lubricants performance claim did not meet an original equipment manufacturers formal approval, VLS sought a letter of assurance from the technology provider that the claims being made were supported by the additive company, the group said in a statement. VLS new guidelines require the lubricant manufacturer or marketer subject to an investigation submit a candidate data package to demonstrate the formulations performance.

Although this does not specifically address the issue of OEM approvals, as very few oils are marketed without ACEA (or API) claims, requesting this document is considered to be the best way of assessing the performance of the product, said the statement, referring to standards set out by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association and the American Petroleum Institute.

Since it was established in 2013, VLS has investigated more than 60 complaints that a variety of commercial and passenger car automotive oils and hydraulic fluids fell short of marketing claims.

Grease Production Edges Up in Europe

Lubricating grease production in Europe increased 1.2 percent in 2018, according to the National Lubricating Grease Institute’s annual production survey, which was released in June. Production at plants in Europe shifted to grease made with calcium soap thickeners and lithium soap complex, while the Middle East and Africa experienced an uptick in those made with complex lithium soap thickeners.

Doing Deals

Belarus raised exports duties on lubricants exported outside the Eurasian Economic Union from U.S. $31.30 per metric ton to $33.10/t on June 1.

Gazpromneft-Lubricants signed an agreement with Vyborg Shipyard, a shipbuilding company in Vyborg, Russia, to supply marine lubricants to the non-nuclear icebreaker, “Ob.”

Malaysias Petronas Chemicals Group is set to take over Dutch additive company BRB International B.V.’s holding company for $182 million.

Swiss specialty chemicals company Lanxess began operating a new test bench for additivated hydraulic fluids at its site in Mannheim, Germany. The bench is used to test the additive package Additin RC 9200 N, as well as other fluids.

Ali & Sons, the agent of Porsche, Volkswagen and Audi vehicles in Abu Dhabi, will continue using Mobil as its preferred lubricant brand after renewing its agreement with EMEA Lubricants, which is a joint venture between ExxonMobil and Gibca Group in the United Arab Emirates.

Shell Lubricants and Al Jabr Trading Co., a Kia Motors dealer in Saudi Arabia, agreed to a partnership that will supply Shell Helix lubricants to Kia dealerships in the country.

Lubricants supplier Eni France selected the French subsidiary of Gefco Group to manage its logistics for lubricants storage and delivery.

Al Mustaqbil Al Zahir Cars Trading will distribute Lukoil lubricants products in the U.A.E. after the two companies entered into an agreement.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. will sell its base oil to Indian Oil Corp. under a long-term sales agreement.

The lubricants division of Spanish energy company Repsol added another six months to complete a feasibility study into the acquisition of an equity stake in United Oil Company Pte Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based lube manufacturer United Global Ltd.

French chemicals distributor Safic-Alcan set up a new subsidiary Safic-Alcan Hellas to service Greece from a site in Athens. Safic-Alcan Hellas hired its first employee, Yannis Antonopoulos, to be general manager responsible for sales and development.

EPPCO Lubricants, a joint venture between Emirates National Oil Co. and Chevron Al Khaleej, which distributes ENOC and Caltex branded lubes, signed a three-year partnership with Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company, a construction and commercial vehicle distributor in the U.A.E., to supply 3.577 million liters of lubricants, coolants and greases.

On Site

Russian oil major Gazpromneft confirmed that plans to build a base oil plant at a Novi Sad, Serbia refinery owned by its subsidiary have been postponed indefinitely.

Shell India opened a lubricant laboratory at its technology center in Bengaluru, a first for the local subsidiary of the Anglo-Dutch energy giant.

Oxea debottlenecked its existing isononanoic acid production units in Oberhausen, Germany. The company will use the additional capacity to support the growth of the global synthetic lubricants market.

Lehvoss has finished construction of a new laboratory at its Hamburg-Wandsbek site at a cost of more than 4.5 million.

Personnel Column

Patricia Lafert is Petricos new European technical sales manager covering France and the Benelux countries. Before joining Petrico, a global distributor of petroleum and chemical products, she worked in positions throughout Europe where she gained experience in the lubricant and specialty chemicals market.

Lanxess appointed Anno Borkowsky to its management board. Borkowsky will be responsible for the specialty additives segment.