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>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

<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

<ul><li>Cargo of light and heavy-grade Group II base oils loaded from Taiwan in recent days before heading to Indonesia, set to arrive next week.</li><li>Taiwan’s base oils exports in first-half May remained lower than during the same period in March and April.</li><li>Singapore took delivery in the past week of a large shipment from northwest Europe that set off from that market in first-half March.</li></ul>

Cargo of light and heavy-grade Group II base oils loaded from Taiwan in recent days before heading to Indonesia, set to arrive next week.Taiwan’s base oils exports in first-half May remained lower than during the same period in March and April.Singapore took delivery in the past week of a large shipment from northwest Europe that set off from that market in first-half March.

Global Base Oils Cargo Flows: Week To 15 May

Equity & Credit Research

Duncan Chan

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Offshore markets softened alongside weaker oil prices and demand expectations, but producers still appear increasingly focused on long-duration supply resilience and spare-capacity stability.</li>
<li>High-Specification offshore rigs remain structurally constrained after years of underinvestment, fleet retirements and limited replacement capacity following the 2014–2020 offshore downturn.</li>
<li>Offshore utilisation and day-rate momentum softened materially after the 2024 tightening phase, although premium offshore assets continue benefiting from constrained replacement capacity, backlog visibility and limited newbuild activity.</li>
</ul>


Offshore markets softened alongside weaker oil prices and demand expectations, but producers still appear increasingly focused on long-duration supply resilience and spare-capacity stability.
High-Specification offshore rigs remain structurally constrained after years of underinvestment, fleet retirements and limited replacement capacity following the 2014–2020 offshore downturn.
Offshore utilisation and day-rate momentum softened materially after the 2024 tightening phase, although premium offshore assets continue benefiting from constrained replacement capacity, backlog visibility and limited newbuild activity.


Oil Rigs: Offshore Supply Security Is Reshaping The Rig Market

Market & Forensics Analyst, Beat the Street

Nimish Maheshwari

Market & Forensics Analyst

Beat the Street

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.

Read Business Not Stock Prices

<ul>
<li>The government has issued a fresh schedule under the Oilfields Act revising royalty rates across all upstream regimes, with the sharpest cuts reserved for deep-water and ultra-deep-water blocks.</li>
<li>Lower royalties structurally improve margins for ONGC and Oil India on nomination blocks and send a credible signal to private and foreign capital eyeing India's underexplored frontier basins.</li>
<li>The reform is directionally right, but the near-term earnings uplift for the two PSUs is moderate. The more transformational bet is, whether the deep-water concessions finally unlock India's offshore potential.</li>
</ul>


The government has issued a fresh schedule under the Oilfields Act revising royalty rates across all upstream regimes, with the sharpest cuts reserved for deep-water and ultra-deep-water blocks.
Lower royalties structurally improve margins for ONGC and Oil India on nomination blocks and send a credible signal to private and foreign capital eyeing India's underexplored frontier basins.
The reform is directionally right, but the near-term earnings uplift for the two PSUs is moderate. The more transformational bet is, whether the deep-water concessions finally unlock India's offshore potential.


India Cuts Royalty Rates to Boost Domestic Oil and Gas Output: ONGC & OIL India in Focus

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian Oil Co., doing business as Saudi Aramco, operates as an oil exploration company. The Company focuses on hydrocarbons exploration, production, refining, distribution, and shipping, as well as provides crude oil marketing services. Saudi Aramco serves customers worldwide.

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Saudi Aramco (ARAMCO AB)

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

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

Global Base Oils Cargo Flows: Week To 15 May

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

Base Oil News

Oil Rigs: Offshore Supply Security Is Reshaping The Rig Market

Offshore rig markets are softening cyclically, but long-duration supply replacement remains structurally slow after years of underinvestment and...

Duncan Chan

India Cuts Royalty Rates to Boost Domestic Oil and Gas Output: ONGC & OIL India in Focus

Government cuts royalty rates for deep-water blocks under Oilfields Act, benefiting ONGC and Oil India, while signaling potential for private and...

Nimish Maheshwari

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

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

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

Global Base Oils Cargo Flows: Week To 15 May

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

Base Oil News

Oil Rigs: Offshore Supply Security Is Reshaping The Rig Market

Offshore rig markets are softening cyclically, but long-duration supply replacement remains structurally slow after years of underinvestment and...

Duncan Chan

India Cuts Royalty Rates to Boost Domestic Oil and Gas Output: ONGC & OIL India in Focus

​Government cuts royalty rates for deep-water blocks under Oilfields Act, benefiting ONGC and Oil India, while signaling potential for private and...

Nimish Maheshwari

Government cuts royalty rates for deep-water blocks under Oilfields Act, benefiting ONGC and Oil India, while signaling potential for private and...