Shell Embraces, Valvoline Snubs Dexos
While Shell will offer engine oils under its General Motors’ Dexos license and more than 20 other marketers have applied for licenses, Valvoline has given Dexos the cold shoulder, citing cost concerns.
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Siberian Base Oil Plant Planned
ZapSib NPZ plans to build a new $1 billion low-sulfur fuel refinery that will include a base oil plant in Tomsk, in western Siberia.
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Dirty Lubes Plague Navy Ship
Lube oil system contamination caused damage to the amphibious transport dock ship San Antonio’s diesel engines that may cost $7.5 million to correct, a recent U.S. Navy investigation concluded.
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Quaker Sees Growth in Hot Rolling Oil
Quaker Chemical acquired the former D.A. Stuart U.S. aluminum hot rolling oil business from Houghton International, including rights to sell the product portfolio internationally. Terms were not disclosed.
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Heartland Expands in Cajun Country
Heartland Automotive Services, the largest U.S. Jiffy Lube franchisee, acquired Cajun Lube and CCR Lubes, operator of 12 Jiffy Lube retail service centers in Louisiana.
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Briefly Noted
Lanxess will double capacities at its Liying, China, trimethylolpropane, di-TMP and calcium formate plant by 2011’s end to meet increasing demand… ExxonMobil will manufacture and supply Caterpillar branded lubricants to Caterpillar factories and dealers worldwide as part of a multi-year agreement… Shell Marine Products will support Shanghai Maritime University’s new marine engine lab with $200,000, including donation of 80 tons of lubricants… Elevance Renewable Sciences has licensed Evonik’s metathesis catalyst technology for conversion of natural oils to specialty chemicals in its bio-refineries.
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U.S. Base Oil Price Report
Tight supply alongside robust demand continues to define the U.S. base oil arena, although summer doldrums are having an impact on day-to-day activity. Motiva’s sales allocation has ended, and prices are moving in the naphthenic sector.
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Europe-MidEast-Africa Base Oil Price Report
Base oil prices are here to stay, and they may advance higher, as demand continues to outstrip supplies for all types of base oil in the EMEA region.
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SSY Base Oil Shipping Report
Prompt space has tightened in the U.S. Gulf due to a slight upsurge in demand. Most European routes remain overtonnaged, and rates are under further downward pressure. Asia is the pick of the bunch and is the preferred location to keep ships.
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Editor's Note: LNG Sourcebook Is Here
LNG’s completely updated 2010-2011 Lubricants Industry Sourcebook is now posted online. See www.LNGSourcebook.com for new customers, suppliers, brands, contacts.
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