Valvoline has announced its collaboration with TAM Durabus, a Slovenian commercial vehicle and bus manufacturer. In a multi-year collaboration, TAM will exclusively use Valvoline engine, transmission and gearbox oils and anti-corrosion products in all newly built vehicles built for the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions.

Further our story last week, Gulf Oil Corporation Ltd, has told OEM/Lube News that it is planning to increase capacity of its current lube blending plant in Silvassa, near Mumbai, to 100,000 MT annually, and also plans to build a second lubricants blending plant near Chennai in the next 24 months. The new blending plant has a planned capacity of 50,000 MT of lubricants annually.

Paris, France-based Total last Wednesday reported fourth quarter profit of $2.18 billion, down 28 per cent from $3.04 billion a year earlier. Canada's Suncor Energy meanwhile reported fourth quarter 2013 operating earnings of C$973 (US$886) compared to C$988 million for the fourth quarter of 2012.