Research Finds 16% of SM Oils are Flawed
Research by a leading independent testing company shows
quality control issues for North American passenger car engine oils last year.
Of 250 engine oils that claimed to meet the API SM specification, 16 percent
were outside one or more of the specification limits identified on their
labels, according to data provided to Lube Report by the Institute of
Materials.
[FULL STORY]
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Successful Sellers Target Frugal Buyers
In post-recession America, lube packagers and
marketers may face a flat-lining economy, lower vehicle replacement rates,
fewer miles driven and frugal consumers changing their own oil, NPD Group
projects.
[FULL STORY]
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Russian Sales Halted to Central Asia?
Gazprom Neft will continue to supply the Kyrgyzstan market
with lubricants, fuels and other petroleum products, the company’s press
service confirmed, denying reports in some local media that it had halted the
exports to the Central Asian nation.
[FULL STORY]
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Berenfield Containers Adds Plant
Berenfield Containers purchased a 112,000 square foot facility in Warren, Pa., which will produce new steel drums used for lubricants and chemicals.
[FULL STORY]
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Shell Aviation Picks UAE Distributor
Al Jaber Group will set up a distribution center in Dubai to
distribute Shell Aviation lubricants in the United Arab Emirates.
[FULL STORY]
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Smitty’s Upgrades Lab
Smitty’s Supply has opened a new laboratory equipped to test incoming base oils and additives as well as blends for production, finished lubricants and new formulations.
[FULL STORY]
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Briefly Noted
Southern California quick lube chain EZ Lube LLC appointed Guy Marsala as its new president and
CEO. French transport and logistics
company Norbert Dentressangle
secured a two-year contract extension with Emo
Oil, a lubricants supplier in Northern Ireland. Oxea will raise off-list
prices Sept. 1 on five types of solvents by 3 cents per pound in the
United States, Canada and Mexico.
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U.S. Base Oil Price Report
The U.S. base oil market experienced a steady week of
activity amid a fairly quiet backdrop, thanks largely to a heavy week of
vacationing for many in the industry. Posted prices survived a week of no
changes, while upstream developments are in a state of flux.
[FULL STORY]
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Europe-MidEast-Africa Base Oil Price Report
A rather dull week on the EMEA base oil scene, with little
activity taking place, possibly due to the holiday season being in full swing
throughout the whole region.
[FULL STORY]
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SSY Base Oil Shipping Report
In contrast to the previous week, the second week of August
reminded the shipping market how quiet things can be during summer. The
main areas of excitement have been from the U.S. Gulf into the Far East and
some of the routes out of Asia and the Middle East.
[FULL STORY]
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Clarification
Early editions of “Motor Oil Buyers, Beware” last week said that Pilot- and Sheetz-branded 5W-30 oils claimed to be API-licensed but were not, because they did not appear in API's directory of licensed products. After the story was published, API's Kevin Ferrick said, "API inadvertently left the Sheetz product off the Pinnacle Oil license, and the Pilot license expired because of some delays related to the renewal process. I expect both licensing issues to be rectified soon." Both products are now correctly listed at API's website.
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