Volume 3 Issue 29

Japan Trends to Group II and III

Japan will have excess supply of API Group I base stocks because demand is shifting to Group II and Group III to meet specifications for fuel-efficient automotive engines dominating the local market, industry experts told Lube Report Asia.

Indonesia Writes National Lube Spec

Indonesia is writing a national standard for lubricants and plans to implement it in the near future, according to a member of the Association of Lubricant Distributors, Importers & Manufacturers, a trade group in the country. The government hopes the standard will restrain the flow of imports and reduce the volume of substandard lubes.

Sri Lanka Liberalizes Market

Sri Lankan officials decided last week to grant more licenses for lube suppliers, according to an executive from its state-owned oil company. The move was contentious because some existing license holders warned it could lead to a glut in the market.

Shell Opens Philippines Lubes Hub

Shell recently inaugurated a bulk storage terminal for lubricants in Guiguinto, the Philippines - its first new lubricants facility in the country since the obligatory demolition of its oil depot in Manilas Pandacan neighborhood last November.

Briefly Noted

Swedish firm Axel Christiernsson AB set up a subsidiary in Singapore tooffer its grease toll blending, research and development and logistics services to its regional customers. Russias Lukoil Marine Lubricants established a sales office in Hong Kong. German laboratory services provider Kruess opened subsidiaries in Shanghai and Beijing, China. The Hamburg-based company offers foam analysis, transformer oil testing, lab equipment and more.