ExxonMobil announced last Friday that it will increase its branded and unbranded lubricant and grease prices by up to 4%, effective June 5, 2014. This follows the announcement by Shell Oil Products US (SOPUS) approximately one month ago of a general price increase on lubricants of up to 4%, effective May 5, 2014.

Albemarle announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell certain assets to SI Group, a global developer and manufacturer of chemical intermediates, specialty resins, and solutions. Among the products in the transaction are Albemarle's antioxidants, which includes its Ethanox lubricant antioxidant product lines, as well as several manufacturing sites.

Afton Chemical (NewMarket Corporation Petroleum additives) sales for this year’s first quarter were $574.0 million, up 2.8% versus the same period last year, and shipments were up 5.9%. Petroleum additives operating profit for the quarter was $96.2 million, or 5.7% lower than last year’s very strong first quarter of $102.0 million.

Warren Oil Company announced the expansion of the West Memphis, Arkansas plant, Warren Unilube Inc.. A new 10,000,000 pounds per year grease manufacturing and packaging plant at this location has begun full production. The plant is initially focusing on Lithium, Lithium complex, anhydrous calcium and calcium sulfonate greases.

Gazprom Neft has announced the opening of a second production facility for the blending and packaging of motor oils at its Omsk Lubricants Plant. The new high-tech facility is the largest in Russia in terms of total blending and packaging capacity, able to process up to 110,000 tonnes of motor oils, and with the capacity to package 180,000 tonnes of finished product.

Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI) announced last Thursday it is launching the Advanced Engine Fluids (AEF) consortium to better understand fuel and lubricant chemistry and its effects on engine combustion. The AEF will hold its first meeting on July 7, 2014, at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio.

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