View from the Bridge - China, August 2013
GDP remains a thorny issue for Chinese legislators and lubes producers alike.
GDP remains a thorny issue for Chinese legislators and lubes producers alike.
Are Extraordinary Measures still required for the world's economies? Governments in the major continents each have their own challenges to combat.
High interbank lending rates, continued downward economic forecasts and the challenge of implementing National IV emissions standards are all conspiring to put pressure on the Chinese economy, lubes producers and consumers.
A new look to the OATS Bulletin and a new perspective on lubricants marketing.
Tensions between China's dipping PMI and expanding auto industry sending mixed messages. Is there a danger of over-reaction to short-term figures? Is China's lubes industry ready to cope with an increasingly competitive market?
The drive for US gas is affecting the energy majors' profitability, but the lubes sector is running a tighter ship. The internet is forcing an omni-channel model in the retail sector and OATS is re-aligning its Bulletin from next month.
China's latest drive for urbanisation could be good news for the OEM lubes sector and for 'cleaner' infrastructure development. But it could lead to a significant increase in local government debt.
What would happen if US consumers follow Europe's diesel consumption and petrol reduction lead? How will the trend for Always On technology impact lubes marketing in developing nations.
As the new Chinese leadership is sworn in, CO2 emissions top the agenda for the regime's plans for the future.
The complexity of Lubes marketing was brought into sharp relief at the recent London ICIS Conference.