Volume 2 Issue 40

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

The U.S. Gulf has been slightly busier, which has eliminated a large part of the additional space. European markets have been chugging along reasonably satisfactory. Asia looks quieter because of all the public holidays.-by Adrian Brown

Group I Pressure Forecast to Continue

The loss of market share that API Group I base oils have experienced for many years will likely continue and accelerate, and the rationalization pressure on small Group I plants in Europe and Asia will persist as Group II and III makes further inroads globally, an industry insider said at a conference.

Citgo Under Threat Again After Ruling

A United States appeals court lifted a hold Monday on Crystallex International Corp.s efforts to seize shares of refiner Citgo as part of a grievance with Venezuelas Petroleos de Venezuela S.A.

Growth Seen Looming for Additives

Global lubricant additive demand volume will grow 0.5 percent per year from 4.6 million tons in 2018 to more than 4.8 million tons by 2023, consultancy Kline & Co. projected, slightly less than the growth projected for finished lubricants due to a sharp decline in detergents for marine lubricants.

From Other Editions of Lube Report

Briefly Noted

Tim Langlais joined Calumet Specialty Products Partners L.P. as director, strategy and growth, effective Aug. 30. Langlais most recently served as manager of the Worldwide Paraffinic Lube Refinery Performance Analysis (Lube Study) benchmarking program at HSB Solomon Associates and previously spent six years with Ergon’s base oil marketing team and eight years at Phillips 66. California Fuels & Lubricants will distribute VP Racing Fuels products, including VP racing lubricants, to tracks and drivers throughout Southern California.