Nothing has changed fundamentally this week. Europe is still the slowest of all the major markets, whereas the markets in Asia and the United States are both slightly stronger. U.S. Gulf Demand has picked up the pace into Asia, and now space has become tight through the first half of November, even though several additional ships have been brought on berth. Freights have also started to rise. Methanol is moving in large amounts from the Caribbean and U.S. Gulf, with at least seven ships fixed. E...

Russias total commercial vehicle fleet consumed 533,000 tons of lubricants in 2016, up 3.3 percent compared to the year before, driven by the increased freight turnover, introduction of new passenger transportation routes and increased road construction, a market study found. Out of these 533,000 tons, road construction and other off-road machinery consumed 209,000 tons of lubricants, according to RPIs study. Half of the 209,000 tons was motor oils, 39 percent of it was hydraulic oils and 11 per...

Last month Saudi Arabia lifted its longstanding ban on women drivers, fuelling speculation the landmark decision will trigger a surge in vehicle sales and, by implication, finished lubricant consumption. Superficially, the numbers looking compelling – Saudi Arabia has a female population around 14 million – but hopes that the ending of the ban next June will stoke the kingdoms lackluster automotive-market may be overstated, analysts say. According to recent research by IHS Markit, ne...

Rerefiner Heritage-Crystal Clean posted a drop in revenue for its Oil Business segment in the third quarter ending Sept. 9, while WD-40 saw a minor increase in net income for the quarter ending Aug. 31, the fourth quarter of its fiscal year, compared to results a year earlier. Heritage-Crystal Clean Heritage Crystal Cleans oil business segment – which includes used oil collection activities, sales of recycled fuel oil and rerefining activities – reported $28.3 million in revenue for ...

South Africas Blue Chip Lubricants said the completion of its 43,000 tons per year blending facility in Johannesburg earlier this year will enable it to embark on large-scale blending of lubricants for the South African and sub-Saharan African markets. Blue Chip Lubricants is the sole blender and distributor in Africa of Q8Oils lubricants, a product of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. We will look to distribute Q8Oils into the [Southern African Development Community] region. We already have a few p...