With all the public holidays taking place around the world, business has been disjointed and difficult to conclude. The shipping market has suffered as a result, with all regions reported to be slower.-by Adrian Brown

More than 26 million new light vehicles will enter the Middle East vehicle parc between now and 2023, and that could speed the shift to higher quality lubricants in the region, an additive supplier predicts.

Russian oil major Gazprom Neft confirmed that plans to build a base oil plant at a Novi Sad, Serbia, refinery owned by its subsidiary have been postponed indefinitely.

Independent lubricants blender Fuchs Petrolub SE reported that its earnings after tax declined for the first quarter of 2019, and revenues for the quarter were unchanged, compared to the same period in 2018.