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

<ul><li>US base oils prices rise versus feedstock/competing fuel prices, especially for Group II light-grade export prices.</li><li>Firmer margins point to steady-to-tight supply-demand fundamentals at a time of year when they typically start to weaken.</li><li>Firmer margins incentivize refiners to maintain or raise output.</li></ul>

US base oils prices rise versus feedstock/competing fuel prices, especially for Group II light-grade export prices.Firmer margins point to steady-to-tight supply-demand fundamentals at a time of year when they typically start to weaken.Firmer margins incentivize refiners to maintain or raise output.

Americas/EMEA base oils supply outlook: Week of 20 October

<ul><li>US base oils demand could stay cautious amid signs of sufficient availability of supply even with current plant-maintenance work and as regular export cargoes remove surplus volumes.</li><li>Sufficient availability of supply suggests demand is sufficiently weak to balance out current drop in volumes.</li><li>US domestic Group II base oils price-premium to vacuum gasoil (VGO) holds in narrow range so far in Q4 2025, reflecting that dynamic.</li></ul>

US base oils demand could stay cautious amid signs of sufficient availability of supply even with current plant-maintenance work and as regular export cargoes remove surplus volumes.Sufficient availability of supply suggests demand is sufficiently weak to balance out current drop in volumes.US domestic Group II base oils price-premium to vacuum gasoil (VGO) holds in narrow range so far in Q4 2025, reflecting that dynamic.

Americas/EMEA base oils demand outlook: Week of 20 October

<ul><li>US Group II base oils prices stay in unusually narrow range versus vacuum gasoil feedstock prices throughout most of this year.</li><li>US Group II base oils domestic price-premium to export prices similarly stays in relatively narrow range so far this year.</li><li>US Group II heavy-grade price-discount to prices in markets like India similarly holds in relatively narrow range throughout most of this year.</li></ul>

US Group II base oils prices stay in unusually narrow range versus vacuum gasoil feedstock prices throughout most of this year.US Group II base oils domestic price-premium to export prices similarly stays in relatively narrow range so far this year.US Group II heavy-grade price-discount to prices in markets like India similarly holds in relatively narrow range throughout most of this year.

Global base oils arb outlook: Week of 20 October

<ul>
<li>Global base oils margins rise in response to increasingly lower crude oil prices.</li>
<li>Mostly-steady outright prices magnify impact of lower crude oil prices.</li>
<li>Firmer margins and steady outright prices point to stronger-than-usual fundamentals for the time of year.</li>
</ul>


Global base oils margins rise in response to increasingly lower crude oil prices.
Mostly-steady outright prices magnify impact of lower crude oil prices.
Firmer margins and steady outright prices point to stronger-than-usual fundamentals for the time of year.


Global base oils margins outlook: Week of 20 October

Oil and Gas, Mint Finance

Suhas Reddy

Oil and Gas

Deep Fundamental Analysis

Mint Finance

Mint Finance's investment research blends deep fundamental analysis with technical & quant insights. Investment strategies straddle across multiple asset classes with risk management embedded into every trade to deliver an outsized reward-to-risk ratio.

Mint Finance's research is centered around three key themes. First, energy transition and climate change. Second, artificial intelligence. Third, shifting world order with its impact across politics and monetary economics.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Occidental’s USD 9.7 billion OxyChem divestment fast-tracks debt reduction but removes a steady earnings buffer, leaving the company more exposed to volatile oil market cycles.</li>
<li>The sale strengthens Occidental’s balance sheet and strategic focus on upstream operations but sacrifices diversification, as the chemicals unit provided resilient cash flows during oil downturns.</li>
<li>Executing the divestment amid a chemical sector downcycle appears poorly timed. Occidental will sell a profitable asset at a discount while crude prices remain subdued.</li>
</ul>


Occidental’s USD 9.7 billion OxyChem divestment fast-tracks debt reduction but removes a steady earnings buffer, leaving the company more exposed to volatile oil market cycles.
The sale strengthens Occidental’s balance sheet and strategic focus on upstream operations but sacrifices diversification, as the chemicals unit provided resilient cash flows during oil downturns.
Executing the divestment amid a chemical sector downcycle appears poorly timed. Occidental will sell a profitable asset at a discount while crude prices remain subdued.


Occidental’s Rush to Reduce Debt Will Erode Long-Term Resilience

United States

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a holding company owning subsidiaries in a variety of business sectors.  The Company's principal operations are insurance business conducted nationwide on a primary basis and worldwide on a reinsurance basis. Berkshire's other operations include a railway company, a specialty chemical company, and an international association of diversified businesses.

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Berkshire Hathaway Inc Cl A (BRK/A US)

Americas/EMEA base oils supply outlook: Week of 20 October

US base oils prices rise versus feedstock/competing fuel prices, especially for Group II light-grade export prices. Firmer margins point to...

Base Oil News

Americas/EMEA base oils demand outlook: Week of 20 October

US base oils demand could stay cautious amid signs of sufficient availability of supply even with current plant-maintenance work and as regular...

Base Oil News

Global base oils arb outlook: Week of 20 October

US Group II base oils prices stay in unusually narrow range versus vacuum gasoil feedstock prices throughout most of this year. US Group II base...

Base Oil News

Global base oils margins outlook: Week of 20 October

Global base oils margins rise in response to increasingly lower crude oil prices. Mostly-steady outright prices magnify impact of lower crude oil...

Base Oil News

Occidental’s Rush to Reduce Debt Will Erode Long-Term Resilience

Occidental's $9.7 billion OxyChem divestment boosts debt reduction but increases vulnerability to oil market fluctuations by sacrificing a steady...

Mint Finance

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Americas/EMEA base oils supply outlook: Week of 20 October

US base oils prices rise versus feedstock/competing fuel prices, especially for Group II light-grade export prices. Firmer margins point to...

Base Oil News

Americas/EMEA base oils demand outlook: Week of 20 October

US base oils demand could stay cautious amid signs of sufficient availability of supply even with current plant-maintenance work and as regular...

Base Oil News

Global base oils arb outlook: Week of 20 October

US Group II base oils prices stay in unusually narrow range versus vacuum gasoil feedstock prices throughout most of this year. US Group II base...

Base Oil News

Global base oils margins outlook: Week of 20 October

Global base oils margins rise in response to increasingly lower crude oil prices. Mostly-steady outright prices magnify impact of lower crude oil...

Base Oil News

Occidental’s Rush to Reduce Debt Will Erode Long-Term Resilience

​Occidental's $9.7 billion OxyChem divestment boosts debt reduction but increases vulnerability to oil market fluctuations by sacrificing a steady...

Mint Finance

Occidental's $9.7 billion OxyChem divestment boosts debt reduction but increases vulnerability to oil market fluctuations by sacrificing a steady...