ExxonMobil last Tuesday unveiled its lineup of Mobil Delvac™ diesel engine oils designed to meet or exceed the CK-4 and FA-4 categories of API PC-11 specification. These include improved versions of current Mobil Delvac 1300 Super, Mobil Delvac 1™ ESP 5W-40, and Mobil Delvac Extreme semi-synthetic oils.

Houston-based Shell Oil Co. announced last Tuesday it is completely vacating its namesake downtown tower, six months after listing the 350,000 square feet of downtown office space on the sublease market. Shell said it will move 3,400 employees to the company's campuses in west Houston.

Excess Group II/III basestock production will continue to challenge Group I basestock demand. Planned naphthenic capacities add to the challenge for Group I basestocks. Group II is becoming the new Group I – the mainstay of lubricant formulations. Group II suppliers are squeezing their margins to make inroads into Group I market.

TPC Group announced last Tuesday that it has reached an agreement to sell its Baytown Operations to SI Group. The operations include manufacturing assets for nonene, tetramer, and other propylene derivatives, used as intermediates in the production of lube oil additives, antioxidants, and other products.

Ashland and Valvoline last Thursday announced the pricing of Valvoline's initial public offering of 30,000,000 shares of Valvoline's common stock at a price to the public of $22.00 per share. The stock opened on the New York Stock Exchange at $24.10/share and closed at $23.10/share on Friday.

• Kline’s Index of Base Stock Production and Re-refining Cash Margins Indicates Improved Profitability over the Past Three Months
• The Role of API FA-4 Oils in Increasing Fuel Efficiency Webinar Playback Now Available
• Sea-Land Chemical Co. Expands Leadership Team
• Vertellus and Palmer Holland Expand Distribution Relationship
• Lubricants Russia Press Release "Metal-Working Fluids and Industrial Lubricants 2016”
• Oxea to Increase Prices on 2-EA in EMEA and on NPG and TMP in Europe October 1