U.S. markets look fairly robust for the rest of July. Europe also seems as though it will get through the next couple of weeks without too much difficulty. Asia is not exactly busy, but owners are finding cargoes and there are clearly fewer prompt positions than before.-by Adrian Brown

Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. expects to commission in 2022 a 270,000 metric tons per year base oil plant that will mostly produce API Group III stocks at its Haldia Refinery in West Bengal.

Marine lubricants will need formulations for multiple types of fuel when ship owners comply with IMO 2020 regulations effective Jan. 1, 2020, industry experts said at a conference in Singapore last month.

Sasol Ltd. opened its alkoxylation plant in Nanjing, China, last week, expanding its production of surfactants, some of which are used to make lubricants and metalworking fluid additives, the company announced. It is the companys first wholly owned facility in Asia.