TheLubricant Specialists
Join the community ↗Dated market, standards, regulatory and technology developments with concise commercial context and links to the original sources.
Latest research reviewed 1 October 2026. Dates identify source announcements or stated effective dates. “Why it matters” is LS editorial analysis; company claims are attributed.
API’s Motor Oil Guide specifies 1 October 2026 as the obsolescence date for GF-6A and GF-6B, directing users to GF-7A and GF-7B respectively. GF-7B applies only to SAE 0W-16.
Why it matters: Review product claims, certification marks and customer guidance against the applicable API rules and vehicle requirements.
Geography: International specification
Shell inaugurated its Bekasi grease plant on 15 September, with stated capacity of up to 12,000 tonnes per year alongside its Marunda lubricants blending plant. Capacity is not a measure of actual output.
Why it matters: Buyers can review local product availability, qualification and lead times as regional manufacturing expands.
Geography: Indonesia
Infineum’s 8 September technical brochure highlights pre-ignition, water management, corrosion and emulsion behaviour in hydrogen combustion engines. It describes evaluation of existing oils, boosted formulations and bespoke solutions.
Why it matters: Request engine-specific validation before extending diesel-oil claims to hydrogen applications. This is supplier technical guidance, not a new industry approval.
Geography: Global technology development
FUCHS announced that TITAN GT1 PRO FPW03 SAE 5W-30 holds Stellantis FPW9.55535/03 approval. The announcement concerns this named product and specification.
Why it matters: Workshops should confirm the required specification for each vehicle and distinguish formal approval from broader suitability claims.
Geography: Europe; vehicle-specific applications
Lubrizol’s news centre dated its CV1700 heavy-duty additive announcement 1 September. The company says North American shipments have begun for formulations targeting the upcoming CL-4 and FB-4 categories.
Why it matters: Blenders should obtain qualification packages and plan formulation trials. Additive availability does not itself establish a finished-oil licence.
Geography: North America
In its 25 August analysis, Infineum distinguishes substantiated performance claims from inadequately validated “suitable for use” statements and calls for stronger supporting evidence. It acknowledges that reputable suppliers may substantiate suitability through extensive testing.
Why it matters: Audit approval letters and performance data for each claim. A suitability statement should not be presented as an OEM approval.
Geography: Global lubricant quality
ALIA reported that Indonesian lubricants distributor Sefas Group agreed to acquire 100% of Shell's fuel-station business in Indonesia, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions. The report does not establish a transfer of Shell's lubricant brand or lubricant operations.
Geography: Asian Specifications Centre
Valvoline Global Operations became an Official Partner of Mahindra Racing, linking its lubricant-development programme with electric-mobility work. The announcement is a partnership signal, not evidence of a new commercial EV-fluid specification or product approval.
Geography: Emissions & Future Technology Centre
Shell Lubricants and Hyundai Motor renewed their global partnership for five years. ALIA published the report on 20 August; the companies announced the agreement on 19 August. The relationship began in 2005 and covers collaboration across product development and motorsport engineering.
Geography: Emissions & Future Technology Centre
Castrol said its ON PG25 and ON PG25T direct-to-chip cooling fluids were validated against NVIDIA requirements for AI-factory and data-centre infrastructure. ALIA published the report on 20 August; Castrol's underlying company announcement was dated 18 August.
Geography: Emissions & Future Technology Centre
Chevron announced on 3 August that HF Sinclair will become its exclusive Group II distributor in Canada and existing US territories from 1 May 2027. Renkert retains complementary product and regional distribution roles.
Why it matters: Map future supply contracts and qualification needs by product and territory. The announcement does not establish an immediate change in physical supply.
Geography: North America
CPCB's official portal states that EPR-certificate transfer has resumed and is operational. This confirms the transfer function, not a separate price-discovery marketplace.
Geography: India
Operational guidance was updated for reporting closed-loop packaging waste in the 2026 file specification.
Geography: Sustainable Packaging Centre
The 13 July implementing regulation was published on 22 July. It covers real-world battery-durability metrics, low-temperature BEV range, electrified-system power and related monitoring, but is not an EV-fluid specification.
Geography: Emissions & Future Technology Centre
The regulation establishes type-approval rules, test methods and conformity requirements for M1 and N1 brake-particle emissions. It has no direct engine-oil requirement.
Geography: Emissions & Future Technology Centre
GB/T 7607-2026 will replace the 2010 edition when it takes effect on 1 February 2027.
Geography: Asian Specifications Centre
Published on 1 July and updated on 2 July with a clarification, the methodology covers relevant household packaging. RAM 1.1 remains the method for 2026 reporting.
Geography: Sustainable Packaging Centre
GB 11121-2025 replaced the 2006 edition on 1 July 2026.
Geography: Asian Specifications Centre
GB 11122-2025 replaced the 2006 edition on 1 July 2026.
Geography: Asian Specifications Centre
The current edition governs API engine-oil licensing, formulation controls, quality marks and marketplace monitoring.
Geography: Additive Performance Centre
The companies announced a pilot using authorised commercial-vehicle service touchpoints as collection points and registered recyclers for onward processing.
Geography: India
The updated guidance clarifies Part 279 application, specification used oil, storage, hazardous-waste mixtures and processing. State rules may be stricter.
Geography: Circular Economy & RRBO Centre
The non-binding notice provides the Commission's current interpretation ahead of the regulation's general application date.
Geography: Sustainable Packaging Centre
CPCB directed recyclers to maintain GST-linked sales records. From 1 July 2026, certificates supported by recycled-product sales invoices other than GST e-invoices are not to be considered.
Geography: India
ATC-ERC identifies the 1 June version as current. The code governs consistent engine-test operation, registration and reporting used in ACEA and EELQMS development work.
Geography: Additive Performance Centre
The partners announced a model for collection, storage, recycling and conversion to RRBO from automotive service operations.
Geography: India
MEE and SAMR approved mandatory amendments to GB 18352.6-2016 and GB 17691-2018, effective 1 May 2026.
Geography: Emissions & Future Technology Centre
MoEFCC's 2025–26 annual report identifies Circularity in Used Oil as one of five working groups under the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition, with FICCI as secretariat.
Geography: India
CPCB issued an implementation-review communication to State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees and requested Action Taken Reports under the used-oil EPR framework.
Geography: India
CPCB published final guidance for imposing environmental compensation under the 2023 used-oil EPR rules. The guideline should be read with the governing rules and entity-specific facts.
Geography: India
The partners announced an SPV targeting 100 KTA of used-lubricant collection and a 50–100 KTA RRBO facility within three years.
Geography: India
The Government reported 103 registered recyclers, 19,000 tonnes recycled and 2,000 tonnes of EPR certificates generated as at 5 March 2026.
Geography: India
JASO M 340, M 341, M 342, M 343 and M 345 were revised to 2026 editions. Public JALOS filing-transition details remain unresolved.
Geography: Asian Specifications Centre
The parties plan to route used oil from selected plants to HP Green R&D Centre for reprocessing and explore RRBO-containing finished lubricants.
Geography: India
The memorandum covers potential used-oil collection, re-refining and incorporation of RRBO into lubricants.
Geography: India
The 23 January 2026 office memorandum extended only the FY 2024–25 used-oil EPR return deadline, from 31 December 2025 to 31 March 2026. That relief has expired.
Geography: India
The guidance explains the portal-registration route for collection agents that collect, store and transport used oil under the CA-2 model.
Geography: India
Castrol India's 2025 annual report says an engine oil using locally sourced re-refined base oil was commercialised in India.
Geography: India
The code addresses re-refined base stocks in automotive engine oils and clarifies audit requirements. It does not create automatic approval for an RRBS-containing formulation.
Geography: Circular Economy & RRBO Centre
CPCB directed State Boards and Pollution Control Committees on physical verification under the used-oil EPR framework.
Geography: India
The amendment identifies R9 as recycling or re-refining of used oil. It is scheduled to become effective on 1 January 2030.
Geography: Circular Economy & RRBO Centre
API's guide identifies SQ, GF-7A and GF-7B and describes added coverage including aged-oil LSPI, timing-chain wear and deposit protection.
Geography: Additive Performance Centre
MoEFCC clarified that Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities collecting used oil are collection agents under the used-oil EPR framework.
Geography: India
CPCB asked State Boards and Pollution Control Committees to require producers, used-oil importers, recyclers and collection agents to apply for portal registration within 15 days.
Geography: India
CPCB's guideline distinguishes CA-1 collection and transport from CA-2 collection, storage and transport. CA-2 facilities require relevant consent and authorisation, and the guideline sets a maximum 90-day storage period.
Geography: India