NYCO last week announced it has expanded its European operations with the commissioning of a new production unit dedicated to the manufacture of lubricant additives. The additives are primarily anti-oxidants and coking inhibitors and are intended to be used both for internal consumption and supplied to lubricants blenders.

Re-refiner Puralube announced plans to further expand one of its re-refineries in Zeitz, Germany to enable production of API Group III base oil in the first quarter of 2017. Its Group III production capacity will be 50,000 tpy, converting one of its two existing re-refineries at the site, each currently having 50,000 tpy base oil production capacity.

The bleeding continued for the major integrated oil companies with BP, like Chevron the previous week reporting a fourth quarter 2015 loss, on an unadjusted basis. Upstream earnings declined from the fourth quarter of 2014 to a loss in all instances while downstream earnings typically were higher than last year.

Afton Chemical recorded sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 of $476.7 million, down 13.0% versus the same period last year. Fourth quarter operating profit was $75.3 million, an 11.9% decrease over fourth quarter last year. For the year, sales were $2,125 million, 8.6% down compared to 2014, while operating profit for 2015 declined 2.6% to $374.9 million.

Vertex Energy announced last Wednesday that it has sold its Nevada re-refinery, which is located in Churchill County, to Clean Harbors, Inc. for $35 million, of which approximately $14 million was immediately used at closing to purchase the facility and equipment previously leased by Vertex Energy in order to facilitate such sale.

• Phillips 66 Reduces Prices of Its API Group II+ and Group III Base Oils 10 CPG, Effective January 29
• The Freedonia Group Acquired by MarketResearch.com 
• Houghton International Appoints Kevin Smith to Lead EMEA and Transportation Industry Segment
• Biosynthetic Technologies Obtains $100 Million Loan Pledge from USDA
• Ashland Inc. Completes Acquisition of Oil Can Henry's Stores
• Gunvor Group Completes Its Acquisition of Kuwait Petroleum Europoort Refinery in Rotterdam