As part of an effort to bolster profits, automobile dealers and manufacturers in Malaysia and Indonesia are expanding aftermarket oil change businesses, raising the level of competition for existing service providers and potentially altering the landscape of a major lubricant sales channel.

An explosion occurred two weeks ago during deconstruction of CPC-Shell Lubricants base oils plant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, killing one worker. The company said work has stopped until investigations are completed.

Gulf Petrochem has opened a storage terminal for base stocks and other fluids in Gujarat, India, saying it will provide improved access to the northwestern part of the country.

South Korea and China recently announced that their forthcoming free-trade pact will take 15 years to eliminate Chinese tariffs on South Korean base oils and lubricants.

Hong Kongs Yips Chemical Holdings Ltd. posted a loss of HK $2.9 million (U.S. $374,000) for its lubricants division in 2014, down from a profit of HK $10 million in 2013.