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>Shell's Pearl GTL plant halted after an 18 March attack — removing a major source of global Group III shipments with restart timeline unclear</li><li>US January Group III imports surged from the Middle East before war disrupted shipment flows — Middle East arrivals now set to drop sharply in April</li><li>South Korea February exports fell to a nine-month low before the Middle East conflict disrupted flows across key markets — curtailing shipments to the Middle East and boosting the need for alternative shipments to the US</li></ul>

Shell's Pearl GTL plant halted after an 18 March attack — removing a major source of global Group III shipments with restart timeline unclearUS January Group III imports surged from the Middle East before war disrupted shipment flows — Middle East arrivals now set to drop sharply in AprilSouth Korea February exports fell to a nine-month low before the Middle East conflict disrupted flows across key markets — curtailing shipments to the Middle East and boosting the need for alternative shipments to the US

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 20 Mar '26

<ul><li>Wave of Group II cargoes load from Taiwan in past week before heading to China.</li><li>Several more shipments were set to load from Taiwan in the coming days, pointing to a marked rise in total cargo loadings in March.</li><li>The pick-up in shipments in March mirrored a similar trend in Singapore, despite the prospect of lower output.</li></ul>

Wave of Group II cargoes load from Taiwan in past week before heading to China.Several more shipments were set to load from Taiwan in the coming days, pointing to a marked rise in total cargo loadings in March.The pick-up in shipments in March mirrored a similar trend in Singapore, despite the prospect of lower output.

Global Base Oils Cargo Flows: Week To 20 March

Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Hong Kong Alpha portfolio gained 0.46 % in February resulting in a 2.99% underperformance to its benchmark. The portfolio has outperformed HK indexes by 53% to 75% since inception 10/1/24.</li>
<li>Hong Kong Alpha has generated 63% of its return from alpha and has a Sharpe ratio of 1.71 since inception. The portfolio's annualized mean excess return is 24%.</li>
<li>At the end of February, we reduced positions in the technology sector and added positions in the energy and building materials sectors.</li>
</ul>


Hong Kong Alpha portfolio gained 0.46 % in February resulting in a 2.99% underperformance to its benchmark. The portfolio has outperformed HK indexes by 53% to 75% since inception 10/1/24.
Hong Kong Alpha has generated 63% of its return from alpha and has a Sharpe ratio of 1.71 since inception. The portfolio's annualized mean excess return is 24%.
At the end of February, we reduced positions in the technology sector and added positions in the energy and building materials sectors.


HONG KONG ALPHA PORTFOLIO: (February 2026)

<ul><li>Global base oil supply exceeded demand by the smallest December margin in three years, leaving the market with less buffer as Middle East disruption spreads</li><li>Global supply reached a four-year high in 2025, but expectations of a 2026 surplus have reversed as the conflict disrupts shipments and threatens output</li><li>China’s elevated February output cushions the market against supply shocks, but lower Group III production leaves that segment tighter</li></ul>

Global base oil supply exceeded demand by the smallest December margin in three years, leaving the market with less buffer as Middle East disruption spreadsGlobal supply reached a four-year high in 2025, but expectations of a 2026 surplus have reversed as the conflict disrupts shipments and threatens outputChina’s elevated February output cushions the market against supply shocks, but lower Group III production leaves that segment tighter

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 13 Mar '26

<ul><li>Large Group II cargo with combination of light and heavy grades set to load from Taiwan this week, with India the likely destination.</li><li>Cargo loadings from Taiwan show signs of rising so far in March vs February, but remain well below December and January levels.</li><li>Cargo of Group III base oils loaded from Indonesia in early-March before heading to Europe, set to arrive around mid-April.</li></ul>

Large Group II cargo with combination of light and heavy grades set to load from Taiwan this week, with India the likely destination.Cargo loadings from Taiwan show signs of rising so far in March vs February, but remain well below December and January levels.Cargo of Group III base oils loaded from Indonesia in early-March before heading to Europe, set to arrive around mid-April.

Global Base Oils Cargo Flows: Week To 13 March

China

PetroChina is a Chinese oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, development, production, transportation, and marketing of crude oil and natural gas, as well as new energy operations. It also refines crude oil and petroleum products, produces and markets petrochemical products, and sells natural gas. The company was founded on November 5, 1999, and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

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PetroChina (857 HK)

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 20 Mar '26

Shell's Pearl GTL plant halted after an 18 March attack — removing a major source of global Group III shipments with restart timeline...

Base Oil News

Global Base Oils Cargo Flows: Week To 20 March

Wave of Group II cargoes load from Taiwan in past week before heading to China. Several more shipments were set to load from Taiwan in the coming...

Base Oil News

HONG KONG ALPHA PORTFOLIO: (February 2026)

The war, which launched at the beginning of the month, is now into its second week and its economic effects are being reflected in global markets....

David Mudd

Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 13 Mar '26

Global base oil supply exceeded demand by the smallest December margin in three years, leaving the market with less buffer as Middle East...

Base Oil News

Global Base Oils Cargo Flows: Week To 13 March

Large Group II cargo with combination of light and heavy grades set to load from Taiwan this week, with India the likely destination. Cargo...

Base Oil News

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