Volume 14 Issue 46

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

Asian markets have continued to rebound and many ships are fixed into December. The U.S. had a rather dull week, and Europe was even quieter than the preceding week, with many questioning if there will be a year-end rush. U.S. Gulf There was very little excitement in the U.S. over the past week. Demand, and rates, have not really gone down, nor have there been any of the usual movements associated with de-stocking prior to the end of the year, which has everyone in the shipping market puzzled. I...

Above-average Growth for Biolubes

While biolubricants accounted for less than 1 percent of the global finished lubricants market in 2013, the segment is experiencing above-average growth due to increasing market penetration, according to an analysis by Kline & Co. The consultancy estimated total global lubricant demand at 39.5 million tons for 2013. Milind Phadke, a director in Kline & Co.s energy practice, said during a webinar Nov. 5 that the global biolubricants penetration last year was 0.5 percent or thereabouts. Gl...

3Q Earnings Wrap-up

Calumet Specialty Products Partners posted a strong turnaround in operating income, Ashlands Valvoline segment reported increased operating income, Clean Harbors made more money off rerefined and blended products, and net revenues were up for Cosan Lubrificantes, all in the quarter ending Sept. 30, compared to the year-earlier quarter. Calumet Indianapolis-based Calumet Specialty Products Partners reported $61.4 million in operating income for the third quarter, a strong turnaround from a $19 mi...

PetroChoice Grows with PetroLiance Acquisition

Two U.S. lubricant distributors with extensive but distinct geographic reaches joined forces this week, as PetroChoice acquired PetroLiance. PetroChoice, which is based in Avoca, Pa., and Superior, Wis., purchased PetroLiance, which is headquartered in Apex, N.C.,for an undisclosed sum. Last month, PetroChoice absorbed LubriCorp, a distributor based in Knoxville, Tenn., and opened a new distribution hub in Bridgeport, Ohio. PetroLiances distribution network – spanning Florida, Illinois, No...

Hydrodec Settles for $20M Over Fire

Transformer oil rerefiner Hydrodec has settled with its insurers on a $20 million claim following the fire damage its Canton, Ohio, rerefinery incurred last December. The British company confirmed that the reconstruction and upgrade of its Canton plant is on schedule for early 2015 completion. After $1.25 million in deductions to account for excesses, Hydrodec will receive a total cash payment of $18.75 million. Hydrodec collected around $15.7 million in interim payments while working with indep...

Lab to Help Optimize Hydrotreatment

Air Products is building a hydrogen lab in Pennsylvania designed to help oil rerefiners optimize their hydrotreatment processes. The lab is scheduled to be operational in the third quarter of 2015. Were hoping we can then show them ways to save some money and perhaps make a better quality base oil, Tim Lebrecht, Air Products lead engineer for refinery applications, told Lube Report. Lebrecht said a number of rerefiners use hydrogen produced by systems supplied by Air Products, which is based in ...

Eastern Oil Expands

Lubricants and metalworking fluids manufacturer and distributor Eastern Oil Co. completed a 10,000 square foot facility expansion and renovation project in Michigan. The expansion in Pontiac includes a new laboratory to conduct research and development projects, quality control and technical service activities. The lab will be utilized for the enhancement and expansion of all of our product lines, Bill Schrader, Eastern Oils director of sales and marketing, told Lube Report. Specifically, we wer...

Briefly Noted

BMW AG chose Shell as its only recommended global supplier for aftermarket engine oils, from the start of 2015, for the following brands: BMW, BMW i, BMW M, Mini and BMW Motorrad. Taminco will increase prices Nov. 15 by 3 cents per pound on three types of methylamines. Versalis, a subsidiary of Italian firm Eni, announced a partnership with Solazyme to expand commercial use of Solazymes Encapso, an encapsulated, biodegradable lubricant for drilling fluids.