Volume 1 Issue 34

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

None of the main markets can claim to have been busy over the past week. At best, the vessel supply to demand picture in each region has not worsened, and it could even be said to have tightened slightly in a few areas, but overall, freights remain weak.-by Adrian Brown

Fuchs Sells its Share in Swiss JV

Fuchs Group sold its share in Swiss lubricants company Motorex AG Langenthal to Motorex-Bucher Group AG, the company announced last Thursday. The Germany-based lubricants manufacturer said it wants to compete in the Swiss lubricants market using its own brand.

Iraqi Base Oils Still Struggle

Its been nine months since Iraqs central government declared victory over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, but base oil operations in the country have yet to recover. Industry sources say it is too early to say when production could recover from that conflict - and others that preceded it.

Russian New Car Exports Grew in 2017

Russia exported almost 39,000 new passenger cars in 2017, up 23 percent from the year before, but accounting for just 2.8 percent of the 1.4 million cars produced in the country in the same year, according to Autostat, a consultancy that specializes in the Russian automotive industry.

From Other Editions of Lube Report

Briefly Noted

Finland-based Telko Ltd acquired Danish lubricants distributor Square Oil A/S for an undisclosed amount. Square Oil A/S operates in the Norwegian and Danish markets with net sales of 3 million (U.S. $3.4 million). Lukoil will distribute more than 20,000 tons of engine, transmission, gear, hydraulic and circulating oil for the Federal Grid Co. of Unified Energy System. Brenntag completed its acquisition of Wavre, Belgium-based specialty chemicals distributor Alphamin S.A., which supplies specialty polymers and waxes.