Norwell, MA-based Clean Harbors said it will substantially increase its focus on blended oil opportunities within its Oil Re-refining and Recycling segment and, as part of this effort, create a separate business within that segment. The company will transition from a business that produces a majority of base oil to one that manufactures many products from its re-refining process.

Petro-Canada Lubricants has broadened their base oil product portfolio available ex-tank Dordrecht, Netherlands with the addition of Group II PURITY™ base oils. Petro-Canada Lubricants already has a range of Group III PURITY™ base oils and PURETOL™ pharmaceutical white oils well established in Europe, serving a wide number of markets and customers.

Malaysia's UMW Grantt International launched a full range of newly-enhanced Grantt lubricants on January 23, 2015. UMW Grantt International is targeting sales growth of up to RM100 (USD27.8) million over the next five years for the newly-improved range of Grantt lubricants and is targeting Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia in its first phase of developing an export industry.

According to a December 20, 2014 Nikkei Asian Review article, Idemitsu, Japan's second largest oil company, is in the final stages of talks to acquire number 5 Showa Shell Sekiyu for an estimated 500 billion yen (U.S. $4.2 million). Idemitsu, though, has denied it agreed to purchase Showa Shell, but said it and Showa Shell are discussing potential cooperation.

Doha, Qatar-based Qatar Fuel (WOQOD) announced it plans to establish an engine oil production factory in Mesaieed Industrial City in Qatar and has already completed a feasibility study for the proposed project. WOQOD supplies a wide range of automotive and industrial lubricants; currently it sources the products from other companies.

• San Joaquin Refining Decreases Naphthenic Base Oil and Other Specialty Oil Prices by 25 CPG Effective January 22
• Virgin Atlantic Selects Mobil Jet Oil 387 for New Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners
• Sea-Land Chemical Co. Celebrates 50th Anniversary
• Saudi Castrol Signs Exclusive Distributorship Agreement with AlOdhaib Company
• Alhaji Aminu Abdulkadri, President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN),  Steps Down