Shell announced last week that it has opened a new world class lubricant blending plant in Tianjin, its eighth in China. The new plant can produce 330 million litres of finished product per year and has the potential to expand to 500 million litres.

Gulf Oil International has signed a brand use license agreement with Canadian's XTR Energy Company Limited, resulting in the return of Gulf branded service stations to Canada, after an absence of 30 years. XTR will be working in conjunction with Gulf’s official Canadian lubricant distributor, Teklub, in order to help further develop retail lubricant sales in Canada

Houston, TX-based specialty chemicals supplier Soltex announced last week that it acquired Sacramento, California-based Petroleum Chemicals, a supplier of chemical components as well as lubricant additive packages. Soltex is largely a marketer of specialty base stocks as well as some lubricant additives.

SKF recently expanded its portfolio of food-grade lubricants with a range of specially formulated lubricants approved to NSF and USDA H1 standards. The product line includes several greases, chain oil, hydraulic oil, gear oil and dry film lubricant.

Superior, Wisconsin based AMSOIL INC. has announced that company founder Al Amatuzio has stepped down as president and CEO. Alan Amatuzio and Dean Alexander have been appointed co-presidents. Al Amatuzio will maintain influence as chairman of the board of the company.

• Calumet Increases Price of Its (Group I) Calpar 600 and Calpar 2500 (Bright Stock) by 10 CPG, Effective July 1
• HollyFrontier Increases Prices of Its (Group I) SN500, SN525, SN550, SN600 and Bright Stock by 10 CPG, Effective June 22
• Chevron Increases Its (Group II) 600R USGC Price by 15 CPG Effective June 24
• Kline’s June Index of Base Stock Production and Re-refining Cash Margins Indicates Decreased Margins for Base Oil Producers