Lubrizol and Mitsui Chemicals announced last Tuesday that they have entered into an alliance agreement making Lubrizol the exclusive worldwide seller and marketer of the LUCANT(TM) polymer product range to the lubricant industry. Mitsui Chemicals will continue to offer LUCANT for applications outside of the lubricants industry.

Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd and Mahindra Group-owned Swaraj Tractors have developed and introduced a high performance long drain engine oil for the bazaar tractor segment in India. Swaraj-Gulf co-branded engine oils, manufactured using Group III base oils, would be made available across India under the Gulf XHD S Tractor brand name.

Nynas' net sales grew to 7,019 SEK million, or US$942 million, (compared to 6,500 SEK million) for the third quarter and to 17,537 SEK million (compared to 14,816 SEK million) for the first nine months of 2014. EBITDA amounted to 515 SEK million (compared to 356 SEK million) in Q3 and to 991 SEK million (compared to 420 SEK million) for the first nine months.

India-based Cetex Petrochemicals plans to expand its annual capacity by four-fold to 80,000 tonnes at a cost of Rs.400 crore (US$65 million). At present, Cextex produces 10,000 tonnes each of MEK and SBA, with an additional 10,000 tonnes being added. In addition, Cetex had acquired Shell Chemicals Houston plant, which would be dismantled and brought to India to produce 50,000 tonnes of petrochemicals.

• San Joaquin Refining Decreases Naphthenic Base Oil and Other Specialty Oil Prices by 20 CPG, Effective November 25
• According to Industry Sources, ExxonMobil Announced a Base Oil Posted Price Reduction of 10 CPG For Its Group I CORE and Its Group II+ EHC Base Oils and 20 CPG For Bright Stock, Effective November 25
• Feedstock Prices Falling Faster than Product Prices Leading to Improved Margins for Both Refiners