China’s Move to Higher Tier Oils
To meet China’s huge and growing demand for lubricants, its domestic oil majors are pumping out nearly 5 million metric tons of base oil a year, while imports add another 1.4 million tons. They could produce 1.5 million t/y of API Group III by 2015, a Sinopec official said.
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Subway Track Grease Ignites
An electrical arc ignited track grease along a stretch of the Chicago subway Sunday, causing a fire that injured 19 subway riders.
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Chemtura’s Chapter 11 Exit Nears
Chemtura and 26 U.S. affiliates filed a joint Chapter 11 reorganization plan and disclosure statement Thursday, key steps in exiting bankruptcy. Separately, the company has snagged $1.5 million in federal funds to support synthetic refrigerant lubricants development.
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Kuwait Expands Antwerp Blending Plant
Kuwait Petroleum International Lubricants has installed 24 storage tanks at its blending plant in Antwerp as part of a five-year project to make it one of the largest in Europe.
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CEO Shakeup at Gulf Oil Marine
British Petroleum executive Keith Mullin will replace Gulf Oil Marine CEO Caroline Huot, who stepped down June 15. Gulf Deputy CEO Bernard Damin will take over Huot’s duties until Mullin joins the company in July.
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Nanotribology Boosts Lubes
Nanoparticles research can help modern lubricants work better, replace some current lubricants, and may even possess self-repairing functions, Georgetown University professor Stephen Hsu told STLE.
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Briefly Noted
Woodlands, Texas-based Huntsman is eying new polyetheramine manufacturing capacity within Asia, including expanding its Jurong Island, Singapore operation… Automotive Oil Change Association of Richardson, Texas, promoted Leanne Stump to executive director effective May 25… Ulsan, South Korea-based Songwon, which makes alkyl phenols and cresols used in lubricants, established Songwon International - India Pvt. Ltd. in Mumbai, India… BASF of Ludwigshafen, Germany, appointed Kurt Bock to succeed Jurgen Hambrecht as board of executive directors chairman.
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U.S. Base Oil Price Report
ConocoPhillips and SK Lubricants increased postings for API Group III base oils by 15 to 20 cents per gallon. U.S. market conditions remain difficult with tight supply alongside healthy demand.
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Europe-MidEast-Africa Base Oil Price Report
The EMEA market has gone very flat, with little activity between sellers and buyers. There are many enquiries going around the market, but when sellers open up with their inflated ideas on prices, buyers appear to turn off, wait a few days then repeat their enquiries through alternative channels.
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SSY Base Oil Shipping Report
The market in the U.S. Gulf scraped through another week without any major changes. European coastal routes have been steady, but deep-sea is not generating much traffic. Asia continues to be active and space remains tight.
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Publisher's Note: '10 Base Oil Guide Is Here
LNG’s completely updated 2010 Guide to Global Base Oil Refining, a colorful wall chart listing the world’s key mineral base oil plants, has been mailed to all subscribers to the print edition of Lubes’n’Greases magazine. Click here for information on ordering copies.
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