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Imports rise on surge in shipments from US
Imports likely to stay elevated in December, further rebuilding blender inventories
Surge in imports helps to remove surplus supplies from US market
Brazil’s base oils imports rebounded to a fourteen-month high in November, driven by a surge in shipments from the US and increased premium-grade flows from Asia.
Brazil imported more than 73,000 tonnes of base oils in November, up from October levels of less than 45,000 tonnes and the highest since September 2024, government data showed.
Imports look set to remain elevated in December, when a heavy slate of US cargoes is scheduled to arrive before year-end.
The November rebound likely helped blenders to replenish depleted stocks and offset the impact of lower supply and recent domestic plant-production issues.
A further wave of arrivals in December could leave blenders with higher stocks heading into the start of 2026.
The scenario could prompt blenders to slow the pace of subsequent procurement as they work to maintain balanced inventories.
The rise in US shipments in November and December provided suppliers in that market with a critical outlet for surplus volumes at a time when domestic demand faced a typical slowdown during the winter period.
Any subsequent pullback in Brazil’s demand for overseas supplies could conversely increase pressure on US refiners to redirect surplus shipments to other markets like Africa and India, raising competition across those import destinations.
