Castrol and Italy's Piaggio Group last Monday signed a multiannual global agreement for the supply of lubricants for the Group’s motorised two-wheeler brands covering the exclusive supply of first fill engine oil for the Group's two-wheelers manufactured around the world and for its commercial vehicles produced in Italy.

Shell, Valvoline and CITGO announced last week they will increase the prices of their lubricants and greases, Shell and Valvoline by up to 4%, and CITGO by 4 to 6%. They join ExxonMobil, Chevron, Phillips 66, Castrol and several independents who announced prices increases during the past few weeks.

Eaton and Cummins last Monday announced an agreement to form a joint venture for automated transmissions for heavy-duty and medium-duty commercial vehicles. The joint venture will be named Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies.

LUKOIL has signed a contract with AVTOTOR Holding in which LUKOIL will supply the Kaliningrad automobile factory with lubricants for the initial fill of the small diesel engines of a new model range. The synthetic motor oils from LUKOIL will be used in modern diesel engines having a capacity of 1.5 kilowatt to 56 kilowatt.

Volkswagen Group UK has announced a major new supplier partnership with Fuchs Lubricants UK. The agreement sees Fuchs replace Castrol as the lubricants supplier for Trade Parts Specialists’ (TPS) Quantum range of oils in the UK.

• Motiva Increases Postings for Its (Group II) Star 4 (105 SUS) and Star 12 (600 SUS) by 10 CPG and Its Star 6 (220 SUS) by 12 CPG Effective April 14
• ExxonMobil to Increase All Its API Group I, II and II+ Base Oil Prices by 20 CPG, Except Bright Stock, Which Will Increase by 15 CPG, Effective May 1
• Kleen Performance Products to Increase Base Oil Prices of Group II and Group II+ RHT 70, RHT 120 and RHT 240 by 20 CPG Effective May 1
• RelaDyne Acquires Hager Oil Company of Alabama
• Quebec-based Crevier Lubricants Acquires Laval, Quebec-headquartered Lubrifiants et Produits Spécialisés Kenbec
• Fuchs Opens New UK Office
• Intertek Acquires KJ Tech Services GmbH