Southeast Asian nations are home to one-tenth of the world’s population. 650 million inhabitants are forecast to expand by a further 120 million by 2040, with an increasing concentration in urban areas. Fuelled by this population growth, urbanisation and industrialisation, the region’s economy is projected to double in the same period. Speaking at the SIEW […]

The world’s population could reach its peak at the end of the current century, amassing total inhabitants of almost 11 billion. A 2019 projection, from the population division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, projects the global populace will continue to rise rapidly over upcoming decades, but with growth varying greatly […]

In October 2019, research and consulting firm Markets and Markets published a global lubricant forecast that projected lubricant demand to reach USD188 billion by 2024, from USD164 billion today, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.7%. A rise in the industrial sector and advancement in emerging countries in Asia Pacific, the Middle East […]

By Dr. Raj Shah and Anson Law The transmission fluid industry in the United States is soaring with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7% currently and projections are that the market will exceed US1.9 billion by 2025. China, the world’s largest car market, is also surpassing expectations with transmission fluid forecast to grow […]

Air travel contributes around 2.5% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Admittedly, this is a far smaller share than the likes of passenger cars and energy production. Though, demand for air travel is rising quickly, and so are its emissions. In 2018, nearly 4.4 billion passengers were carried by the world’s airlines with the associated […]

Tightening regulations on the use of sulphur in the maritime industry went into effect on 1 January 2020. The implementation of the MARPOL Annex VI regulation by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires all shipping companies to limit their fuel sulphur content to 0.50% when operating outside of Emission Control Areas (ECA). This was a […]

The future of the global lubricants market remains uncertain. We are encountering major disruptions that include a drive towards sustainability, a difficult regulatory environment, and the impacts of digitalisation. Distortion of the world order, both economically and politically, is happening before our eyes. What will happen to the market is anyone’s guess. Speaking at the […]

China is pushing its environmental agenda, and recent reports suggest that the country’s “war on pollution” is starting to make some headway. Swiss firm IQAir AirVisual reported that Beijing’s concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) have fallen to their lowest levels since 2008 when record-keeping began. These findings are supported by official data released recently […]

In December 2019, the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Lubricant Standards Group (LSG) met to evaluate the recent ballot on API 1509 Annex E. 1.2. The LSG convened in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A., including members of the committee, representatives and interested visitors. API 1509 describes the voluntary API Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS) and […]

Consistent, reliable chemistry is fundamental for any base oil customer. Companies often talk about security, but how can you be confident that the specialty oils you rely on will not only remain consistent, but that they will be available years or even months from now? Over more than 40 years in the refining industry, Ergon […]