A bit more business has been detected in the U.S. markets this week. Europe is steady, with freights roughly unchanged. Asian coastal markets are very much hand-to-mouth, however, with some freights starting to weaken.-by Adrian Brown

Italmatch Chemicals Group is set to acquire Afton Chemicals metalworking fluid business, strengthening the Italian companys position in the industrial lubricants market, the companies announced Friday. The deal is expected to close by May 30.

Chinas Belt and Road Initiative is set to disrupt the 2.3 million metric ton global marine lubricants market as investment pours into ports outside the existing supply chain serviced by major marine lubricant distributors, an industry veteran warned.

Independent lubricants blender Fuchs Petrolub SE reported mixed results for its first quarter of the year, posting an increase in sales revenue, but a decrease in earnings before tax, which the company attributed to unfavorable exchange rates.

A new test method designed to provide a more economical means to monitor for wear particles in grease is returning favorable results in round-robin testing, an industry panel was told last week.