ConocoPhilllips annoucned today that effective October 24, 2008, it will DECREASE (yep you heard it right) decrease prices for most finished lubricant products by $0.30 a gallon.

According to marketers, ConocoPhillips says the major driver for the decrease is the recent drop in the price of crude oil and what marketers are told is the "anticipated reduction in other component costs."

Interestingly, marketers are also being told that although base oil and other component imbalances continue in the market, ConocPhillips inventory provides the flexibility to make the price move at this time.

And if that's not enough to make you stand up and take notice, marketers are being told (not surprisingly) that ConocoPhillips expects Increased demand following the effective date of the price decrease. As such, the spike in demand (driven by the price decrease) could impair the availability of future desired loads and impact its ability to meet requested ship dates.

ConocoPhillips promised its marketers it was going to "Shake Things Up" in 2008. Although this may not be what it had in mind, this announcement, along with the numerous ConocoPhillips new product introductions in 2008 has certainly got our attention.

In fact, with regards to new product introductions... read on

ConocoPhillips Company announced that a 76 High Performance Full Synthetic SAE 0W-20 Motor Oil will be added to its current engine oil offerings. The new 76 High Performance Full Synthetic 0W-20 motor oil fulfills, and in some cases surpasses, the latest performance requirements of ILSAC GF-4 and API SM. It is recommended for use in Asian OEM vehicles such as Honda and Toyota and certain other late-model import vehicles, including several gas-electric hybrids, where the automaker specifies use of a SAE 0W-20 engine oil, according to Clarence McCollum, Director, Automotive Products, ConocoPhillips Company.

"Long term engine protection is top-of-mind for the majority of passenger car owners today," said McCollum. "76 High Performance Full Synthetic 0W-20 motor oil offers drivers a variety of performance benefits, including protection against sludge formation and improved fuel economy, which has become increasingly important to drivers. In addition to these benefits, this new viscosity grade provides excellent wear protection; making it a smart upgrade for consumers driving late-model import vehicles."

Key performance benefits attributed to the new 76 High Performance Full Synthetic 0W-20 motor oil also include improved low temperature flow capabilities, which enable easier engine start up and faster oil circulation at low temperatures. These improvements help to ensure that the oil can endure the rigorous performance demands of today's high-tech engines.

The Dow Performance Fluids Business anticipates increased demand for UCON TRIDENT AW Hydraulic Fluids because of its environmentally friendly performance profile and increasingly strict environmental regulations. According to Dow, ship and dock operators, tunnel boring companies, loggers and even amusement park operators benefit from UCON TRIDENT AW Fluids because they are readily biodegradable, fire resistant, and offer low aquatic toxicity to fish and wildlife. Moreover, Dow says, UCON TRIDENT AW fluids have excellent anti-wear properties over a wide temperature range. These polyalkylene glycol (PAG) based fluids are available from Dow in three different grades and can be sourced through American Chemical Technologies (www.americanchemtech.com) in North America and are available globally by contacting The Dow Chemical Company.

Features & Benefits of UCON TRIDENT AW Fluids

· Biodegradability: UCON TRIDENT AW 32 Fluid is readily biodegradable according to OEDC 301B, while UCON TRIDENT AW 46 and 68 fluids are inherently biodegradable, also according to OEDC 301B standards.

· Low Aquatic Toxicity: According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, UCON TRIDENT AW Hydraulic Fluids meet requirements as "relatively harmless" or "practically non-toxic" to fish and other aquatic wildlife.

· No floating sheen on water: UCON TRIDENT AW Fluids are heavier than water, dissolve completely, and therefore leave no surface sheen, which can simplify cleanup and secondary water treatment requirements.

· Fire resistance: FM Approvals, using the latest test procedures, has classified UCON TRIDENT 46 AW and 68 AW as "Approved Industrial Fluids", and UCON TRIDENT 32 AQ as a specification tested material.

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