Volume 17 Issue 32

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

The U.S. market remains fundamentally active. There are a few signs that Europe is slowing down as the holiday season gets under way. Asian markets have recovered sufficiently that most ships are covered for the short-term. U.S. Gulf There is not a great deal of prompt space left on the routes into Asia, apart from some epoxy-coated tanks that are suitable for base oils but not well-suited for the types of chemical cargoes that are being quoted currently – ethylene dichloride, phenol, etha...

North American Lube Demand to Shift

The United States demand for finished lubricants is expected to grow at a modest compound annual rate of 0.2 percent over the next five years, while Mexicos will jump by 1.3 percent and Canada will decline by 0.4 percent, according to a new study by Kline & Co. consultants. The U.S. makes up 80 to 85 percent of the roughly 3 billion gallons per year market in North America. Canada and Mexico each comprise 5 to 8 percent of demand. I would say Canada is slightly larger than Mexico, said Sush...

Q2 Earnings Wrap-up

Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP’s net income rebounded, Afton Chemicals operating profit slipped, Clean Harbors Safety-Kleen segment reported higher third-party revenues, and BPs lubricants business posted lower profits, all for the second quarter, compared to a year earlier. Calumet Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP posted a $9.6 million net income for the quarter ending June 30, rebounding from a $147.9 million net loss a year earlier. Indianapolis-based Calumets sales reache...

Ineos to Produce Oxo Derivatives

Ineos Oxide, a branch of international chemical company Ineos, plans to construct new units to produce an array of oxo chemical derivatives, the company said early last week. A location has not yet been determined. This decision comes as a result of the companys acquisition of Arkemas 50 percent share of Oxochimie in March. Oxochimie, previously a joint venture between the two companies, produces butanols, 2-ethyl hexanol and oxo aldehydes. [Ineos Oxide] has been able to ingrate the JV plant ful...

Less Driving Slows U.S. Aftermarket

U.S. sales of automotive aftermarket supplies – including motor oils – were up just slightly in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period of 2016, NPD Group reported, hindered by a slowdown in growth of miles driven by consumers. Average selling prices for aftermarket supplies increased nearly 3 percent, but sales revenue grew just shy of 1 percent in the first six months of the year due to a 2 percent decline in unit and quart volumes, according to NPD Group. Mo...

Publishers Note: Lubricants Industry Factbook

Editors at Lube Reports sister publication,LubesnGreasesmagazine, have just put the finishing touches on our yearly Lubricants Industry Factbook. The 2017-2018 edition of this valuable guide is packed with eye-opening information about lubricant industry trends, statistics and standards. Wonder where U.S. base oil exports are flowing? See page 25. Need to figure out the market share of synthetic lubricants? Youll find it on page 36. Whether youre trying to license an engine oil (page 18), learn ...

Briefly Noted

Wilmington, Delaware-based DuPont and Midland, Mich.-based Dow Chemical Co. announced their merger will take effect after the market closes on Aug. 31, having received all required regulatory approvals and clearances and satisfied all merger closing conditions.