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>Signs of easing supply tightness emerged across Asia as crude prices extended their decline, encouraging buyers to hold back.</li><li>South Korea and India maintained high base oils run-rates in April despite global disruptions and pressure to prioritise diesel output, supporting steady regional supply.</li><li>China’s high domestic base oils output curbed import demand, while stronger lubricants exports increased volumes in external markets.</li></ul>

Signs of easing supply tightness emerged across Asia as crude prices extended their decline, encouraging buyers to hold back.South Korea and India maintained high base oils run-rates in April despite global disruptions and pressure to prioritise diesel output, supporting steady regional supply.China’s high domestic base oils output curbed import demand, while stronger lubricants exports increased volumes in external markets.

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 29 May '26

<ul><li>Cargo of Group II light and heavy-grade base oils loaded from Taiwan this week before heading to Vietnam, set to arrive in coming days.</li><li>Taiwan’s export volumes so far in May remained similar to April and below March levels.</li><li>Cargo of Group III base oils loaded from Indonesia in second-half March before heading to Northwest Europe, arrived in recent days.</li></ul>

Cargo of Group II light and heavy-grade base oils loaded from Taiwan this week before heading to Vietnam, set to arrive in coming days.Taiwan’s export volumes so far in May remained similar to April and below March levels.Cargo of Group III base oils loaded from Indonesia in second-half March before heading to Northwest Europe, arrived in recent days.

Global Base Oils Cargo Flows: Week To 22 May

<ul><li>Asia's export cushion narrowed as South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore flows all weakened simultaneously — leaving global markets with less cover</li><li>South Korea's April exports to the US slumped to a near-six-year low — deepening Group III supply risks as Middle East flows stayed halted</li><li>Singapore's April imports temporarily eased regional pressure — but softer May exports pointed to the buffer starting to thin</li></ul>

Asia's export cushion narrowed as South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore flows all weakened simultaneously — leaving global markets with less coverSouth Korea's April exports to the US slumped to a near-six-year low — deepening Group III supply risks as Middle East flows stayed haltedSingapore's April imports temporarily eased regional pressure — but softer May exports pointed to the buffer starting to thin

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 22 May '26

Market & Forensics Analyst, Beat the Street

Nimish Maheshwari

Market & Forensics Analyst

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Beat The Street was founded by Nimish Maheshwari and Sudarshan Bhandari, both of whom are Chartered Accountants by Profession, known for their expert analysis in the fields of Business, Sectoral analysis, and Corporate governance.

With a strong social media presence of 45,000+ Subscribers across various platforms, they are considered trusted voices in the industry. Their insights and analysis have been featured in some of India’s most prominent publications, including the Economic Times, Dalal Street Investment Journal, The Morning Context, and The Ken.

Their analysis on Bankrupt & Insolvent companies has been instrumental in saving investors from significant losses. They have a keen eye for identifying red flags and has identified exclusive redflags earlier in Vedanta, Nykaa, Dhani Services, Adani and many more.

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Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>India's Q1FY27 crude import bill is INR 1,625bn on a USD 40/bbl spike from the West Asia conflict. OMCs hiked fuel prices, the first revision in 49 months.</li>
<li>OMCs face INR 845bn in under-recoveries and INR 540bn in cash losses this quarter alone. The INR 3/ltr hike covers less than 20% of the needed correction.</li>
<li>OMCs can absorb losses for two to three quarters at current leverage. But further hikes of INR 6–9/ltr are needed to avoid EBITDA losses and INR 14–17/ltr for normalized returns.</li>
</ul>


India's Q1FY27 crude import bill is INR 1,625bn on a USD 40/bbl spike from the West Asia conflict. OMCs hiked fuel prices, the first revision in 49 months.
OMCs face INR 845bn in under-recoveries and INR 540bn in cash losses this quarter alone. The INR 3/ltr hike covers less than 20% of the needed correction.
OMCs can absorb losses for two to three quarters at current leverage. But further hikes of INR 6–9/ltr are needed to avoid EBITDA losses and INR 14–17/ltr for normalized returns.


India’s $17bn Oil Shocker: Who Pays the Bill and Can OMCs Survive the Heat?

<ul><li>Asia's supply outlook turned more mixed — elevated Singapore trade flows and high China output cushioned disruptions even as Taiwan and South Korea signalled tightening availability</li><li>China's high base oils output softened the impact of global disruptions domestically — but reliance on imported Group III left exposure to tighter overseas markets</li><li>Taiwan's April shipments fell to multi-month lows while May cargo flows stayed subdued — pointing to shrinking Asia export availability</li></ul>

Asia's supply outlook turned more mixed — elevated Singapore trade flows and high China output cushioned disruptions even as Taiwan and South Korea signalled tightening availabilityChina's high base oils output softened the impact of global disruptions domestically — but reliance on imported Group III left exposure to tighter overseas marketsTaiwan's April shipments fell to multi-month lows while May cargo flows stayed subdued — pointing to shrinking Asia export availability

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 15 May '26

India

Indian Oil Corporation Limited explores for and refines crude oil, in addition to manufacturing petroleum & petroleum products. The Company's products include lubricating oils, liquid petroleum gas, aviation turbine fuels, greases, wax, bitumen and asphalt. Indian Oil Corporation has retail outlets throughout India. The greatest majority shareholding in the Company is held by Indian Government.

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Indian Oil Corp (IOCL IN)

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 29 May '26

Signs of easing supply tightness emerged across Asia as crude prices extended their decline, encouraging buyers to hold back. South Korea and...

Base Oil News

Global Base Oils Cargo Flows: Week To 22 May

Cargo of Group II light and heavy-grade base oils loaded from Taiwan this week before heading to Vietnam, set to arrive in coming days. Taiwan’s...

Base Oil News

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 22 May '26

Asia's export cushion narrowed as South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore flows all weakened simultaneously — leaving global markets with less...

Base Oil News

India’s $17bn Oil Shocker: Who Pays the Bill and Can OMCs Survive the Heat?

India's oil import bill spikes due to West Asia conflict, leading to fuel price hikes by OMCs to cover losses and avoid EBITDA losses in the future.

Nimish Maheshwari

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 15 May '26

Asia's supply outlook turned more mixed — elevated Singapore trade flows and high China output cushioned disruptions even as Taiwan and South...

Base Oil News

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 29 May '26

Signs of easing supply tightness emerged across Asia as crude prices extended their decline, encouraging buyers to hold back. South Korea and...

Base Oil News

Global Base Oils Cargo Flows: Week To 22 May

Cargo of Group II light and heavy-grade base oils loaded from Taiwan this week before heading to Vietnam, set to arrive in coming days. Taiwan’s...

Base Oil News

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 22 May '26

Asia's export cushion narrowed as South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore flows all weakened simultaneously — leaving global markets with less...

Base Oil News

India’s $17bn Oil Shocker: Who Pays the Bill and Can OMCs Survive the Heat?

​India's oil import bill spikes due to West Asia conflict, leading to fuel price hikes by OMCs to cover losses and avoid EBITDA losses in the future.

Nimish Maheshwari

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 15 May '26

Asia's supply outlook turned more mixed — elevated Singapore trade flows and high China output cushioned disruptions even as Taiwan and South...

Base Oil News

India's oil import bill spikes due to West Asia conflict, leading to fuel price hikes by OMCs to cover losses and avoid EBITDA losses in the future.