Volume 2 Issue 38

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

There has been a touch more business in the U.S. Gulf, and the same seems to be the case in Asia. European markets are largely unchanged however. There will undoubtedly be a massive impact for all regions following the drone attacks in Saudi Arabia this week, but it is still too early to see how it will all take shape.-by Adrian Brown

U.S. Base Oil Production Slips

During the first half of 2019, the United States base oil production purred like a contented kitten as Asian countries production roared like a hungry tiger.

Gauging Past, Future Heavy-duty Engine Oils

Maintaining older categories when the industry is at risk of not having the necessary engine tests to keep them alive is one key challenge to future heavy-duty engine oils.

Group I Still Valuable in Shifting Market

API Group II base oil has overtaken Group I in terms of global production capacity and will likely continue to distance itself in coming years, but Group I oils still offer unique properties that will keep them relevant, an industry insider said at a conference in Chicago last week.

From Other Editions of Lube Report

Briefly Noted

John Banach, vice president, base oil sales, retired from Calumet Specialty Products Partners L.P. on Sept. 1 after 49 years of service. His son Bart Banach, who joined the company in 2009, was promoted to sales director, base oils on Sept. 1. The Federal Trade Commission approved a final order settling charges that Quaker Chemical‘s $1.4 billion acquisition of Houghton International is anticompetitive. Under the final order, Quaker is required to divest Houghton’s North American aluminum hot rolling oil and steel cold rolling oil product lines and related assets to Total, and the proposed settlement agreement also requires Quaker to divest to Total certain related product lines, including steel cleaners and AHRO-compatible hydraulic fluids.