UKLA President’s Report
Product dumping is a serious issue. It destabilises markets, distorts competition, and eventually leads to a race to the bottom that risks products being offered to the market which are sub-standard and non-compliant. It also does not serve the long-term interests of our end users who come to expect prices that are unrealistically low that could compromise the quality of products and at worst, risk their own vehicles and their own personal safety.
In 2013, products being sold on the UK market at unrealistic prices making unbelievable performance claims was the reason why UKLA established the Verification of Lubricant Specifications, and it seems the problem has not gone away.
Recently UKLA has been alerted to a potential product dumping issue from imports of automotive engine oil and hydraulic oil from the Middle-East at prices that are below the cost price of many domestic producers.
Over the past five years, the UK has been characterised as a relatively mature market accompanied by strong but stable demand. At the same time the increase in imports from the region
to the UK has been seismic. For example, in 2019 the UK imported £341,000 of automotive engine oil, by 2023, this had risen to £28m.
As the trade association committed to safeguarding and enhancing the reputation of the sector, our mission is to drive up standards in the market to better serve the needs of our end users who are dealing with complex chemical products and significant investments in their own applications. All of which need to be protected.
We are therefore supporting the call on the Trade Remedies Authority to review the current situation regarding imports of automotive engine oil and industrial hydraulic oil from the Middle-East to see if they believe there is a case to confirm whether product dumping is taking place.
Mike Bewsey, UKLA President
UEIL President’s Report
With the EU elections on 8-9 June, at UEIL we are getting closer to finalising our EU advocacy strategy. We are currently collecting feedback from UEIL members, our aim being that the strategy be ready to be deployed by the first Plenary meeting of the new European Parliament in July 2024, well ahead of the hearing for the nominated Commissioners.
We will be delighted to share more information about this initiative at our Annual Congress in Portugal on 16-18 October.
The theme for the 2024 UEIL Congress will be “Revolutionizing the lubricants industry, the impact of electrification and alternative fuels” and registrations
4 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.181 JUNE 2024
will open very soon on our website. In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about this year’s Congress, a preliminary programme and more information are available on our website.
This year, I will be hosting a pre-conference port tasting and dinner at Taylor’s Port Wine Cellars in the heart of the historic area of Vila Nova de Gaia in Porto. I hope to see many of you there!
Mattia Adani, UEIL President
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
