Renewable oils firm Novvi last Wednesday unveiled two new 100 percent renewable base oil products, a 100 percent renewable polyalphaolefin (PAO) Group IV and a 100 percent renewable version of its NovaSpec Group III+ base oil.

Ashland Inc. last Friday announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell the industrial biocides assets within Ashland Specialty Ingredients to Troy Corporation. This business includes biocides used in metalworking fluids. The transaction is expected to close within 60 days. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The ongoing rationalization of Group I production across Europe has caused concern about shortages and the expensive need to reformulate products. Nynas decided early on to view the changing refinery landscape as a call to action and can now offer a new range of 12 oils that mimic key characteristics of the outgoing oils.

The passenger car market in the United States is the second largest in the world. There has been significant growth in demand for lighter viscosity grades such as 5Ws and 0Ws. Due to this large volume of as well as vehicle parc modernization, synthetics and semi-synthetics account for roughly one quarter of the market.

Nairobi, Kenya-based KenolKobil announced recently that it, jointly with BP Southern Africa, will build a 12,000 tons per year lubricant blending plant in Mombasa at a cost of between $10 million (Sh958 million) and $15 million (Sh1.4 billion) for production of Castrol branded lubricants.

• Kline's May Index of Base Stock Production and Re-refining Cash Margins Indicates Decreased Margins for Base Oil Producers
• Hydraulics OEM Oilgear to Move Its Headquarters and Close Its Milwaukee Manufacturing Operation
• Castrol is Preferred Lubricant Brand for Tilden Car Care Centers
• Total Marketing Middle East Appoints Diamond Wealth Trading Company as Official Distributor for Its Elf Brand of Lubricants in Oman
• SK Lubricants Signs Licensing Deal with Rabigh First Lubricants Co. to Supply ZIC Products in Saudi Arabia
• Island Lubes Distributors Appointed by TOP 1 Oil Products Co to be Master Distributor for Jamaica
• Nynas Publishes Its 2014 Annual Report
• Shell Expands Marine App Availability, Lubricants Delivery
• Paratherm Introduces Antioxidant Additive for Heat Transfer Fluid Systems That Rejuvenates Oxidized Hot Oil