Refiners Pinch Pennies to Thrive
Basic economics will determine the longevity of most of today’s base oil refineries. While no new solvent refineries will be built, well run solvent plants can compete successfully against newer technologies, but high cost plants are in danger, no matter what their technology or location, Solomon’s Jamie Brunk cautioned.
[FULL STORY]
|
Puralube Launches 2nd Rerefinery
Puralube recently opened a second rerefinery in Zeitz
Chemical and Industrial Park in Troeglitz, Germany, doubling the site’s actual API
Group II base oil capacity to about 100,000 metric tons per year (about 1,900
barrels per day).
[FULL STORY]
|
Independents' Uphill Climb in Venezuela
Venezuela’s lubricants industry faces many of the same challenges today as 48 years ago, including keeping up with technological changes and reducing dependence on imported raw materials, said Ricardo Barreto, president of Venoco, the country’s largest independent blender.
[FULL STORY]
|
Orange Line to Extend Eneos West
Nippon Oil U.S.A. Ltd. has selected Orange Line Oil Co. to
distribute Eneos brand synthetic motor oils throughout the western United
States.
[FULL STORY]
|
Hydrodec Secures Feedstock
Consolidated Edison Co. of New York will supply Hydrodec’s
new transformer oil rerefinery in Canton, Ohio, with a minimum of 450,000
gallons of used transformer oil per year for three years starting from Jan. 1,
2009, under an agreement announced Monday.
[FULL STORY]
|
U.S. Base Oil Price Report
The first full week of 2009 was a bit disconcerting to participants in the U.S. base oil market. Demand remained thin alongside ample supply and still-high prices, according to some buyers. Nynas will cut the price of its naphthenic oils by 50 cents per gallon next Monday.
[FULL STORY]
|
Europe-MidEast-Africa Base Oil Price Report
The New Year has arrived, and with the beginning of 2009, mixed feelings and comments are being heard from the market regarding the ‘exact science’ of base oil pricing. Demand has not changed, at least not in the first few days of the month, so we are back to where we were during the middle of December.
[FULL STORY]
|
SSY Base Oil Shipping Report
A very slow start to the year: many ships are idle, of which a dozen or so have been without employment since before Christmas. Many others are entering their second week without finding cargoes. Europe, Asia and the United States are all affected. The prospects of new business developing this week are not good, implying that very competitive freight levels may be achievable.
[FULL STORY]
|
