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EDITOR’SDESK
VOL 14 • SEPTEMBER 2015
Editorial
MAIN FEATURE
SPECIAL REPORT:
AFRICAN BASE
OIL MARKET IN
CONTEXT
Septmber 2015 • | Lubezine Magazine
PLUS: Lubricant requirements for hybrid vehicles P.26
1
Publisher:
Lubes Africa Ltd
Editor:
Nyakundi H Nyagaka
Design & Layout:
Monda Fred
Contributors:
Yusuf Kipruto
Nyakundi H. Nyagaka
Olaolu Olusina
James Gooder
Thomas Norrby
Darrell Taylor
Photography:
Agencies
Lubezine library
Art Direction:
Propixels Media
[email protected][email protected]
Advertising & Subscription:
Africa
Yusuf Kipruto
[email protected]
www.lubesafrica.com
Europe, Middle East, Asia
Melissa Skinner
[email protected]
Subscriptions: Lubezine is free to qualified
subscribers who are involved in the lubricants
industry as manufacturer’s end-users, marketers
and suppliers to the oil industry. Lubezine is a
quarterly publication of Lubes Africa Ltd. All
rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be produced or transmitted in any form including
photocopy or any storage and retrieval system
without prior written permission from the publishers.
2
Africa base oil
market report is there a looming
shift?
T
ransitioning into a rapidly growing economy,
Africa has become a major center of focus for
the many oil dealers seeking outlets for their
surplus production. This is especially true
for producers of base oil, whose prices now
suggest a fresh market dynamic. We welcome
you to this edition of Lubezine, which takes an insightful look at
this new market trend.
Globally, the price difference between group I and group II base
oils has been shrinking substantially, drawing the interest of lube
blenders toward use of group II base oils. This has created the hope
that – going forward – more engine oils will be blended using group
II base oils, a blending shift that will translate into greater use of
higher lubricants quality in the region’s market.
Meanwhile, the first ever Argus African base oils and lubricants
conference went down in South Africa in June. The event provided
a forum for players in the industry to make presentations regarding
various aspects of Africa’s lubricants market. In this edition, we
report on the various expert-analyses that were presented during
the conference.
West Africa will be holding its second lubricants summit in
November this year, courtesy of Nigeria – one of the leading
lubricants markets in Africa. Endorsed by the Nigeria Standards
Organization and the Department of Petroleum Resources, the
conference will come in the wake of data released by the Lubricants
Producers of Nigeria (LUPAN) indicating that the country loses
$3 billion annually to counterfeited lubricants.
In Kenya, there is an obvious increase in the vibrancy of the
lubricants market, characterized by new product launches and
relaunches by the top lubricants marketers in the country. There
is also an apparent shift to consumption of better quality products,
which is likely to continue benefitting end users.
With a readership of over 3000 professionals and growing,
Lubezine continues to provide the industry with a platform to
exchange information and ideas that can grow the market and
bridge knowledge gaps. We thank our loyal advertisers for their
continuing support. ■
Globally, the
price difference
between group
I and group II
base oils has
been shrinking
substantially,
drawing the
interest of
Africa's lube
blenders to use
group II base
oils
Joseph Ndung’u
September 2015 • | Lubezine Magazine