Volume 17 Issue 29

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

Business is still brisk on certain routes out of the U.S. Gulf. European and Asian markets are similar to each other in some ways as neither are busy, yet nor have they come to a complete standstill. U.S. Gulf July has been a very active month along the Far East route. It is estimated that at least 25,000 tons to 30,000 tons of styrene and 10,000 to 15,000 tons of ethyl benzene was fixed to Asia this week, with further enquiries noted. There appears to have been at least 50,000 tons of paraxylen...

U.S. Light Vehicle Aging Trend Continues

The average age of light vehicles in the United States reached 11.6 years by the end of 2016, up almost 17 percent from 9.9 years in 2007. The increase is expected to slow but continue, edging up to 11.8 years in 2019, according to a report jointly published by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association and Auto Care Association. The trend in shifting vehicle demographics will continue, the study found, as vehicles within the traditional sweet spot of 6 to 11 years old will continue to dec...

Petrobras Resumes Massive Blending Expansion

Petrobras is reviving a dormant plan to expand its lubricant blending plant in Duque de Caxias, Brazil. Expected to begin this year and end by 2020, the project will increase production capacity from approximately 290,000 metric tons per year to 450,000 t/y. The project originally began several years ago but was halted in 2012. Petrobras, which is partly owned by the government of Brazil, said some of the equipment it intends to use has been stored since that time. Companies placing bids are sub...

Adnoc Rolls Dice to Attract Downstream Investors

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. unveiled a far-reaching plan to open up its downstream business to international investors, a development which could significantly alter the base oils landscape in the Middle East. The announcement – titled A new era for Adnoc – detailed plans for Adnocs upstream and midstream businesses in an advertorial via the Twitter account of a local media outlet on July 10. Adnoc owns Takreer, a base oils refiner producing API Group II and III base oils at its plant...

Greif Expands in Texas

Industrial packaging supplier Greif will expand its Houston operations to include an intermediate bulk container manufacturing facility, the company announced Monday. Greif did not disclose the cost of the project, which is being undertaken to meet growing demand along the Gulf Coast. The company said it will built the plant in an existing 100,000 square foot building and that it expects to open the IBC manufacturing facility by the second quarter of 2018. Photo courtesy of Greif The multi-mill...

JV to Produce Tall Oil Fatty Acids

Orgkhim and Ilim set up a 50-50 joint venture to produce chemical products, including tall oil fatty acids and their derivatives, at a plant in northern Russia. The acids can be used in making metalworking fluids, corrosion inhibitors and industrial lubricants. The JV, called Amber Stream, is scheduled to start production by the end of 2017 at its plant in Koryazhma, Arkhangelsk Oblast. The facility will also produce rosin esters. Orgkhim is a Russian chemical and process oils producer, and Ilim...

Briefly Noted

Clean Harbors announced its Safety-Kleen subsidiary is increasing the cost of its charge-for-oil program across its used oil collection network, as well as increasing its stop-fee program by undisclosed amounts to shore up margins squeezed by the decline in prices for crude oil and oil products. Lube-Tech & Partners LLC acquired three Mighty Auto Parts aftermarket products distribution franchises and an exclusive license to distribute Mighty automotive products throughout parts of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.