Global Editor, Base Oil News

Iain Pocock

Global Editor

Global Base Oils and Lubricants Markets

Base Oil News

Base Oil News focuses on the interplay between fundamentals and prices in the global base oils and lubricants markets.

Baseoilnews.com combines daily, weekly and monthly base oils and lubes fundamentals data from every region of the world to build the most comprehensive and up-to-date global picture of the state of the market.

The data and analysis provide key tools to understand current market developments and opportunities and to anticipate how the market is likely to behave in the coming months.

Base oils producers, lube blenders and consumers can then better plan accordingly.

Baseoilnews.com analyses and publishes market news and data every day as it breaks.

Commodities

Base oil is the main component in the production of lubricants including greases, motor oil and processing fluids. They constitute around 90 percent in lubricants. The American Petroleum Institute (API) has categorized base oils into five categories. Group I, II and III are refined from crude.

<ul><li>US base oils export price-discount to US domestic prices stays narrower in Q1 2025 vs year-earlier.</li><li>Narrower export price-discount points to more manageable supply surplus at end-2024 and early this year, when domestic demand faced seasonal slowdown.</li><li>More manageable supply surplus follows firm export volumes through H2 2024 and early this year.</li></ul>

US base oils export price-discount to US domestic prices stays narrower in Q1 2025 vs year-earlier.Narrower export price-discount points to more manageable supply surplus at end-2024 and early this year, when domestic demand faced seasonal slowdown.More manageable supply surplus follows firm export volumes through H2 2024 and early this year.

Global base oils arb outlook: Week of 31 March

<ul><li>Global base oils prices slip relative to firmer feedstock/competing fuel prices.</li><li>Base oils margins in most markets remain at levels that point to balanced-to-tight supply-demand fundamentals, incentivizing refiners to maintain higher output.</li><li>FOB Asia base oils prices fall vs gasoil prices.</li></ul>

Global base oils prices slip relative to firmer feedstock/competing fuel prices.Base oils margins in most markets remain at levels that point to balanced-to-tight supply-demand fundamentals, incentivizing refiners to maintain higher output.FOB Asia base oils prices fall vs gasoil prices.

Global base oils margins outlook: Week of 31 March

<ul><li>US base oils prices mostly stay in narrow range vs VGO prices, contrast with surging premium to VGO this time a year ago.</li><li>Margins hold in narrow range this year even as extensive round of plant maintenance tightens supply.</li><li>Supply could face additional disruption from markets like Canada, depending on impact and reaction to imposition of any US tariffs.</li></ul>

US base oils prices mostly stay in narrow range vs VGO prices, contrast with surging premium to VGO this time a year ago.Margins hold in narrow range this year even as extensive round of plant maintenance tightens supply.Supply could face additional disruption from markets like Canada, depending on impact and reaction to imposition of any US tariffs.

Americas/EMEA base oils supply outlook: Week of 31 March

<ul><li>US base oils demand typically rises around this time of year to meet seasonal pick-up in lube consumption.</li><li>US spot base oils prices mostly hold steady, even with round of plant maintenance work and higher crude oil prices that keep margins under pressure.</li><li>Steady prices, despite rangebound margins and lower supply, suggest demand is lower than usual and lower than expected for the time of year.</li></ul>

US base oils demand typically rises around this time of year to meet seasonal pick-up in lube consumption.US spot base oils prices mostly hold steady, even with round of plant maintenance work and higher crude oil prices that keep margins under pressure.Steady prices, despite rangebound margins and lower supply, suggest demand is lower than usual and lower than expected for the time of year.

Americas/EMEA base oils demand outlook: Week of 31 March

<ul><li>Asia’s base oils prices extend dip versus feedstock/gasoil prices.</li><li>Margins hold firm for heavy grades, pointing to still-strong supply-demand fundamentals.</li><li>Firm margins partially cushion impact of weaker light-grade margins.</li></ul>

Asia’s base oils prices extend dip versus feedstock/gasoil prices.Margins hold firm for heavy grades, pointing to still-strong supply-demand fundamentals.Firm margins partially cushion impact of weaker light-grade margins.

Asia base oils supply outlook: Week of 31 March

Baseoilnews.com combines fundamentals and price data to explain global trends in the base oils and lubricants market. 

The insights help to explain current market dynamics and to anticipate how the market is likely to behave in the coming months.

Market participants can then better plan accordingly. 

Baseoilnews.com analyses and publishes market news and data every day as it breaks.

Iain Pocock
Global Editor
• Base Oil News

Global base oils arb outlook: Week of 31 March

US base oils export price-discount to US domestic prices stays narrower in Q1 2025 vs year-earlier. Narrower export price-discount points to more...

Base Oil News

Global base oils margins outlook: Week of 31 March

Global base oils prices slip relative to firmer feedstock/competing fuel prices. Base oils margins in most markets remain at levels that point to...

Base Oil News

Americas/EMEA base oils supply outlook: Week of 31 March

US base oils prices mostly stay in narrow range vs VGO prices, contrast with surging premium to VGO this time a year ago. Margins hold in narrow...

Base Oil News

Americas/EMEA base oils demand outlook: Week of 31 March

US base oils demand typically rises around this time of year to meet seasonal pick-up in lube consumption. US spot base oils prices mostly hold...

Base Oil News

Asia base oils supply outlook: Week of 31 March

Asia’s base oils prices extend dip versus feedstock/gasoil prices. Margins hold firm for heavy grades, pointing to still-strong supply-demand...

Base Oil News