Most major oil companies have informed U.S. customers of finished lubricant price hikes in recent weeks that will take effect throughout September, and some marketers responded with skepticism and disgust. The latest round follows three sets of increases earlier this year that went into effect from early February through early March, mid-April through early May, and mid-June through early July. Again, most cited increases in base oil and additives costs. Chevron will raise prices 3 to 6 perc...

Petrobras plans to build a base oil plant with 6,800 barrels per day API Group II capacity, expected to stream in 2016, at its Comperj refinery in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The state-owned oil company detailed the plans and capacity during an Aug. 17 press conference. Petrobras currently has to import Group II base oil because Brazil has no Group II production. Through the first seven months of 2011, all companies imported more than 274,000 metric tons of base oils into Brazil, according to the n...

Lubrizol plans to upgrade its existing additives testing capabilities in Mumbai, India, by mid 2012 to help meet significant growth in demand for higher-performing lubricants expected to occur in India within the next five years. Renovations will include consolidation of several existing labs into a modern facility. Upgrades will also include new testing equipment and other equipment to broaden capabilities and provide meeting space for customer training. The facility in Mumbai will provide se...

Albemarle Corp. said yesterday it will supply manufacturing services to aid a new joint venture as it scales up production of lubricating base stocks made from cane sugar. Albemarle will supply the base stocks to Novvi S.A. while it works to build a customer base for its farnesene business. Novvi is a joint venture formed earlier this year by Amyris Inc., a U.S. developer of renewable chemicals technology, and Brazilian sugar company Cosan S.A. Industria e Comercio. The purpose of the joint ven...

The summer lull continues to lay a heavy hand across most of the Americas and Europe. Only in Asia is there more positive news, and much of this relies heavily on continued demand for palm oils. U.S. Gulf of Mexico All the remaining August space on U.S. Gulf-to-Far East service has been snapped up, and charterers are now focusing their attention on September. In some cases, owners do not yet possess their forward program for later September loading, but those who are able to muster space in the...