It’s Shell by a Nose
Shell remained the leader in global market share of finished
lubricants in 2008, with a 13 percent share, edging out second place
ExxonMobil, reported consultancy Kline and Co., which estimated the global
market at 38.2 million metric tons in 2008, down 2.6 percent from 2007.
[FULL STORY]
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Neste Idles PAO Plant
Neste Oil has shut down its 60,000 metric tons per year
polyalphaolefins plant in Beringen, Belgium for four weeks in July-August, the
refiner announced Thursday in its second quarter interim report.
[FULL STORY]
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Profit Up for Lubrizol, Afton in Q2
Lubrizol’s additives segment and New Market’s Afton Chemical
additives subsidiary each saw an improvement in operating profit for the
quarter ending June 30, compared to the year-ago quarter.
[FULL STORY]
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2Q Tough on S-Oil
South Korean base oil refiner S-Oil’s lubricants division
reported declines in operating profit and revenue for the quarter ending June
30, compared to 2008’s second quarter.
[FULL STORY]
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Croda to Close Wilton Plant
Croda International said it plans to cease production at its
Wilton, U.K., site at the end of January 2010 because of Dow’s plans to close a
nearby ethylene oxide and glycol plant that same month.
[FULL STORY]
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Fuchs Acquires Forging-lube Maker
Fuchs Lubricants has acquired Dylon Industries, which
manufactures forging lubricants and other metalworking lubricants. Terms of the
transaction, announced Monday, were not disclosed.
[FULL STORY]
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Shared Research for Future Lubes?
British consultancy Ricardo plc has proposed a consortium of oil, lubricant additive and automotive companies to evaluate and research the lubricant challenges posed by future fuel-efficient engines.
[FULL STORY]
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U.S. Base Oil Price Report
With crude shooting over $70 per barrel, players apprehensive about base oil price hikes had their suspicions confirmed this week. All naphthenic producers announced increases of up to 25 cents per gallon, and Flint Hills Resources raised its paraffinic postings by 10 cents to 15 cents per gallon.
[FULL STORY]
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Europe-MidEast-Africa Base Oil Price Report
With most of mainland Europe on holiday, contracts and business already booked continue, but general enquiries and spot deals are missing from the agenda. The exception is bright stock, which threatens to break the $1,000 per ton barrier.
[FULL STORY]
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SSY Base Oil Shipping Report
Peak holiday season in Europe has induced a lethargy afflicting some European coastal trades; the Americas market is mixed too. Business in Asia continues to accelerate, with higher freights on certain routes.
[FULL STORY]
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Correction
Valvoline is on a September 30 fiscal year. Early editions last week incorrectly identified the quarter ending June 30 as Valvoline's second quarter, rather than its third.
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