Tata Motors last week said it has tied up with Total Lubrifiants for after-market service of commercial vehicles in parts of Africa. Under the partnership, Total Lubrifiants will supply its branded lubricants and special products across the Tata Motors sales & service points in African markets other than South Africa.

ExxonMobil has signed a new distributor agreement that will extend the availability of it’s Group I base stocks for final lubricant blenders in the United Arab Emirates and surrounding Gulf Cooperation Council countries. ExxonMobil Basestocks has named Sharjah National Lube Oil Co. (Sharlu) as an official distributor of ExxonMobil Group I CORETM base stocks.

Chemtura has announced that it is raising the price of certain specialty polyolester (POE) products as well as its polyalphaolefin (PAO) products effective January 15, 2014, or as contracts allow. Chemtura will increase the prices of select POE’s by up to $0.30/kg globally and PAO products by up to $0.15/lb.

Chevron last Thursday reported that its earnings for the fourth quarter 2013 are expected to be comparable with third quarter 2013 results, although its profit is expected to plunge 31% from a year ago during the fourth quarter. Upstream earnings for the fourth quarter are projected to be lower than the prior quarter, while downstream earnings are expected to be higher.

Gulf Oil LP, who until now has been primarily a lubricant and retail fuel supplier, announced that it is entering the commercial and industrial fuel supply business. The company, which owns the Gulf trademark in the U.S. has Gulf Oil branded fuel operations in 30 states along with 12 proprietary terminals and more than 130 other fuel supply points nationwide.

ExxonMobil has partnered with PennEnergy to examine the role of industrial lubricants in gas engine operation. With a significant data acquisition effort that polls workers from across the industry, ExxonMobil's findings reiterate what it has consistently said that the role of industrial lubricants in efficient natural gas engine operation cannot be understated.

• James Hambrick, Lubrizol Corp. CEO, to Oversee Recently Acquired Flow Improver Business of Its Parent Berkshire Hathaway
• World Fuel Services Corporation To Acquire Watson Petroleum Limited
• Motul USA Appoints Ron Aparicio as Director of Sales and Marketing
• KNOC, Vopak, S-Oil Form JV to Build Oil Storage Terminal in Ulsan, South Korea