With crude oil prices reaching record levels and last week's jump in base oil prices, we all knew it was coming. The only question was when. Well it's here. Chevron advised its marketers late last week that it will increase prices an average of 5% and 9% on lubricating oils, and 3% to 5% on gear lubes and greases. The increases are effective December 10, 2007. This increase will reportedly impact both Chevron and Texaco lubricants.

It will be interesting to see how the rest of the week plays out.

While it looks like we may be at the start of this years first price increase from the majors, Jobber Wholesale, a division of North American Lubricants, is pounding the pavement with some of the most aggressive lubricant prices we have seen in while. According to some marketers, they have seen PCEO and HDEO prices under $4.00 a gallon in bulk out of Louisiana.

In addition to very competitive prices, Jobbers Wholesale is reportedly also promoting an innovative purchasing system, product quality and optimized logistics. According to the company's website, "Jobber Wholesale assembled a national manufacturer network to drive extra costs out of the supply chain."

The price polarization continues.

Green Earth Technologies introduced G-OIL, an product advertised as, "totally green biodegradable motor oil guaranteed to protect engines as well as the leading brands, but without the environmental hazards or dependence on foreign oil."

G-OIL is manufactured from tallow. Tallow is derived from beef and has been used to make animal feed, soap, and no longer used for cooking. G-OIL is reportedly made utilizing a proprietary process that converts tallow from a solid raw material into completely biodegradable motor oil for gasoline and diesel engines as well as hybrid cars.

According to the press on this product you can disposal of G-Oil by adding another one of the company's products to it, Disposoil. Disposoil reportedly breaks the G-Oil down into a biodegradable material that can be consumed by the organisms naturally found in the soil.

G-OIL was launched to retailers at the 2007 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), held two weeks ago at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, Las Vegas. The product certainly got a good deal of attention, including 2007 SEMA Show - Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Awards

At the recent national meeting of the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA), Anwer Hussain, CHS Lubricants senior vice president, was elected president of this important industry group. CHS Lubricants are primarily marketed under the Cenex brand.

ILMA represents independent lubricant companies which produce more than 25 percent of all lubricants and 80 percent or more of the metalworking fluids and other specialty industrial lubricants sold in the U.S. "ILMA members, including CHS, take pride in what they manufacture and sell," says Hussain. "A lot of the companies in the organization are small, family-owned operations."

Hussain says all ILMA members have agreed to a strict code of ethics and abide by high ethical and moral standards of conduct. After the inaugural event, Hussain was invited to speak at the Independent Union of the European Lubricants Industry Congress in Sevilla, Spain attended by delegates and independent lubricant manufacturers from 27 countries.