Cincinnati-based Milacrons Industrial Segment posted had operating earnings of $4.6 million for the first quarter of 2017, up 12.2 percent from the same period last year.

The segment, which supplies metalworking and industrial fluids, reported a modest increase in sales to $29 million from last years $28.2 million.

Afton Chemical

Afton Chemical, the petroleum additives segment of NewMarket Corp., recorded an operating profit of $99.1 million for the first quarter of 2017, slipping 1.3 percent from the same period last year. The Richmond, Virginia-headquartered company, however, said sales revenue increased 6.7 percent for the quarter to $540 million due to higher numbers of shipments, which offset shifting selling prices.

Shipments of petroleum additives jumped 13.9 percent in this years first quarter, mostly due to increased lubricant additive shipments into Europe and Asia-Pacific alongside additional fuel additive shipments to Europe and North America.

NewMarket reported first quarter net income of $63.9 million, up 6.7 percent from their first quarter in 2016.

Afton is acquiring Mexican petroleum additives manufacturer and distributor Aditivos Mexiacnos, S.A., a process expected to be completed in the first half of 2017. Officials said the company added that the second phase of an expansion of its Singapore manufacturing facility is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2017.

Fuchs

Independent lubricants blender Fuchs Petrolub SE announced 66 million in earnings before tax, an increase of 12.6 percent from last years 59 million.

The Mannheim, Germany-based company reported that sales revenue rose 12.4 percent to 618 million (U.S. $673.5 million) for 2017s first quarter.

Geographically, the company experienced the most growth in Asia-Pacific and Africa, where sales revenue jumped 25.1 percent to 181 million. Strong sales growth in China contributed to this increase, as did the positive effect of recovery by the South African rand and Australian dollar.

External growth through acquisitions and the recovery of the Brazilian real boosted sales revenue in the Americas by 23 percent to 104 million during the companys first quarter. Europe has the highest sales revenue of any region at 368 million, but only grew 5.3 percent due to negative effects of exchange rate fluctuations with the British pound and the Russian ruble.

Organic growth across all regions, but primarily in China, is strengthening our global position, said Stefan Fuchs, chairman of the executive board. Our investment and innovation initiative supports this growth.

Quaker Chemical

Quaker Chemicals net income fell 45 percent to $7 million during the companys first quarter. The metalworking fluids suppliers net sales, however, grew 9 percent to $194.9 million.

Conshoken, Pennsylvania-based Quaker incurred $9.1 million in legal, environmental, financial and other expenses as part of its pending acquisition of metalworking fluids supplier Houghton Chemical. The transaction is set to close in either 2017s fourth quarter or the first quarter of 2018.

We were able to grow our organic volumes by 10 percent on continued market share gains, as well as from increased production in some of our end markets, said Michael F. Berry, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Quaker. He continued, Our 2017 plans continue to indicate growth in both the top and bottom lines, despite expected currency headwinds, with earnings growth in all regions.

Heritage-Crystal Clean

Heritage-Crystal Cleans oil business segment – which includes used oil collection activities, sales of recycled fuel oil and re-refining activities – had revenue of $27.2 million in its first quarter, a 4.4 percent increase from last years $26.1.

The revenue increase [for the oil business segment] was mainly driven by higher pricing for our base oil and [residual fuel oil] products, partially offset by lower volumes sold, said President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Recatto.

Recatto continued, With the first quarter profit, we have posted four straight quarters of positive operating margin in the oil business. We look forward to building on this performance and continuing to improve profitability in this segment.

BP

BPs lubricants business posted an underlying replacement cost profit before interest and tax of $393 million for 2017s first quarter, up 2.3 percent from the previous year.