Volume 1 Issue 21

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

The European market has fared better than other regions this week. Asia has flopped again, and the U.S. looks rather ragged in places. Rising bunker costs are becoming a major factor for owners who will be trying to recoup the extra cost through higher freights.-by Adrian Brown

Tianqi to Buy Stake in SQM

In a deal that would strengthen ties between two of the worlds largest lithium suppliers, Nutrien Ltd. agreed last week to sell a 24-percent stake in Chiles SQM to Tianqi Lithium Corp.

STLE Gives Window on Industry

The lubricant industrys largest trade conference kicked off this week in Minneapolis at the 73rd annual meeting and exhibition of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. More than 1,500 representatives of lube producers and their suppliers, equipment makers, end users and researchers gathered to check in on the latest developments in the field.

Calumet Trims Earnings Loss

Calumet Specialty Product Partners L.P. reported a net loss of $4.8 million for the quarter ending March 31, improving from a $6.2 million net loss in 2017s first quarter.

From Other Editions of Lube Report

Amalie, Fuchs to Raise Finished Lube Prices

Amalie Oil and Fuchs Lubricants Co. each notified U.S. customers of general price increases for finished lubricants effective June 18. Amalie will increase prices by 40 cents per gallon for oil and automotive chemical products, by 5 cents per pound for all greases and by 48 cents per gallon on its brake fluid products. Fuchs will increase prices by 5 to 8 percent. Both companies cited increases in raw material costs, and Fuchs also cited a significant rise in the cost of freight and containers.

Briefly Noted

NewMarket Corp., parent company of Afton Chemical, appointed Regina A. Harm as Aftons new president. Harm formerly served as the Richmond, Virginia-based companys senior vice president and COO.Valvoline Inc. signed an agreement to acquire Chilliwack, British Colombia-based Great Canadian Oil Change, which franchises 73 quick-lube stores in five Canadian provinces.