The 2012 Guide, mailed with this issue of LubesnGreases to print-edition subscribers, lists 180 of the worlds key nonconventional base stock plants, with owners, locations and (where relevant) capacities. The Guide includes silicones, polyisobutene, esters, polyalkylene glycol, phosphate esters, polyalphaolefin and Group III base stocks.

A lot of deals can happen in one year, the Guide shows. Some quick examples: GEO Specialty Chemicals bought a former Cognis plant to join the PAG list; Hercules berth in esters now belongs to Monument Chemicals; and Neste sold its spot in PAOs to Chevron Phillips Chemical.

Group III base stocks saw the biggest changes in the past year. Global capacity now tops 95,000 barrels per day, following the streaming of Shell-Qatar Petroleum and Neste-Bapco in the Middle East and expansions by Koreas S-Oil and SK.

Our thanks go to Pathmaster Marketing Ltd. in Woking, U.K., and many industry sources for providing the data for this completely updated Guide. Its the third and final of our three hugely popular base stock guides. For information about the guides, or to order copies, visit www.LNGpublishing.com/BaseStockGuide/index.cfm.

Warm thanks also go to the Base Stock Guide advertisers, who make these valuable industry resources possible.

Have you considered advertising in the LubesnGreases family of publications? Gloria Steinberg Briskin is offering terrific early-bird discounts on 2013 space, and she would love to tell you more. Contact Gloria@LNGpublishing.com now to learn more about reaching your target audience in the industrys only audited magazines.

Nancy J. DeMarco

nancy@LNGpublishing.com