Volume 2 Issue 8

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

Global activity has been suspended until China is back and fully operational again after the New Year holidays, at least, that is what everyone is hoping for. Time will tell.-by Adrian Brown

Falling Auto Sales Hurt Middle East Lubes

Plummeting automotive sales in the Middle East are stoking fears of a knock-on effect on the regional lubricants market.

UEIL Battles Anti-competitive Practices

Competition rules in the European Union allow automakers to recommend certain brands of replacement parts, including engine oils and other lubricants, but prohibit them from requiring or coercing customers to use them as a condition of maintaining vehicle warranties.

ASTM Adopts Biobased Grease Test

ASTM International approved as a standard a new small scale oxidation test that provides more accurate results for biobased greases. The approval culminates a long effort by the Biobased Greases Working Group - a joint effort between The European Lubricating Grease Institute and the National Lubricating Grease Institute.

From Other Editions of Lube Report

Briefly Noted

Total Tanzania Ltd. launched its $20 million blending plant, which has capacity to produce 15,000 metric tons per year of lubricants, greases and coolants. Specialty chemicals company Lanxess appointed fuel and lubricant additives supplier Petrico as its distribution partner in the U.K., France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. Mannheim Germany-based independent lubricant manufacturer Fuchs Petrolub announced Kurt Bock will succeed Jurgen Hambrecht, who plans to resign on May 7, as chairman of its supervisory board. Bock was formerly the CEO of chemical manufacturer BASF SE.