View From The Bridge
Each month, 
OATS Chairman, Sebastian Crawshaw shares his view from the bridge with observations about the latest news and emerging trends in the lubricants industry.
To search for specific news over a longer period use our news filter tool...
| Optimism for European growth is spurred by the continued rise of China according to expert forecasts. Read more... |
| The Deepwater Horizon tragedy continues to dominate the industry. But what are the long-term implications for the industry and society as a whole? Read more... Tags: BP, View from the Bridge |
| Torrey Canyon and ExxonValdez are names tattooed on the collective memories of both the oil industry and the general public as shipping-related disasters causing exceptional levels of pollution – and helped change cultures and attitudes. Read more... Tags: OATS, View from the Bridge |
| Global forecasts for 2010 growth in real GDP are increased to 4.5% but the recovery rates vary significantly by country even within the dynamic BRIC economies. In Russia, how will the significant increase in car imports impact on the lubricants market? Read more... |
| The world looks different depending on your location
After attending conferences recently in New York and London, it’s been exciting to visit China & to hear China’s future plan which, unlike many western political events, has a high probability of being implemented. Read more... |
| As detailed in this month’s Corporate News, February has seen the recessionary effect of 2009 emerging in company results. ExxonMobil reported excellent overall figures, but markedly lower downstream earnings. Shell were well down overall, with downstream even weaker; BP were the same. So too Chevron, who also announced a wholesale review of their refining and downstream business. Read more... |
| Welcome to 2010 and the first streamlined OATS bulletin of the new decade. In December 2008, with the world economy in chaos, I set about reviewing what I thought would happen in 2009 to help OATS take a view on what to do next. This year I have done the same thing. Read more... |
| ILMA's clearly stated concerns about GM's proposed DEXOS specifications, and costs attached to them, reflect similar concerns expressed by the European Independents. Without clear, timely and easily accessible specification data, a competitive lubricants industry cannot be streamlined and effective. Read more... |
| The first shoots of global recovery are being widely reported, evidenced by US GDP growth of 3.5% in the Third Quarter of 2009 and buoyant figures from the petrochemical majors. If the multiple that applied on the way into the recession also applies on the way out, then lubricants demand should grow by 12-15% in the coming year. We shall see! Read more... |
| There's a wide range of news across the lubricants industry this month; not least the decision by Chevron to withdraw from India which is, in my view, yet another example of streamlining within the industry. Read more... |
| Welcome back to the OATS Bulletin after our August break. Although the Q2 results showed the impact of the the global recession on the major producers, the overall mood seems to have changed. With even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prepared to send out optimistic messages, the question seems to be what letter will best represent the economic upturn: V, W or L? Read more... |
| What first appeared as a simple 'blip' in Brent crude prices at the end of June and turned out to be a sudden and massive global oil price rise caused by one 'rogue' speculator in the futures market. It would appear that government on both sides of the Atlantic are alive to the problem, let's hope sensible, well constructed regulation is the result. Read more... |
| Welcome to our streamlined look at lubricants industry news. In addition to providing our streamlined look at industry news, we also want to include original and thought provoking content that addresses some of the challenges we all face. Read more... |
| I couldn't let this month go by without a nod and a cheery wave to our 25th Anniversary. In 1984, Brian Harris and Mike Dixon set up OATS Ltd (Oil Advisory Technical Services) to create car lubricants recommendations for the UK market. The first electronic version of the guides appeared in 1994 and our Earl database has continued to evolve and now includes over 470,000 applications and is used in over 90 countries. Read more... |
