US blender Pennzoil-Quaker State was the US’ largest base oils importer in January as it took delivery of a steady flow of supplies from Qatar..Penthol was the US’ second-largest base oils importer in January, reflecting a steady and higher volume of supplies from the UAE over most of the past year.The firm volumes from the Mideast Gulf contrasted with unusually volatile flows from South Korea in recent months.US base oils imports of 1.23mn bl (172,500t) in January fell from 1.62mn bl the previous month, according to the EIA.Most of the supplies consisted of Group III base oils.Imports fell in January mostly because of a slump in shipments from South Korea.The drop in shipments from the northeast Asian country had the largest impact on SK Lubricants Americas, whose imports fell to the second-lowest level in more than a year..The drop in supplies left SK Lubricants America the fourth-largest importer in January. It had been the largest importer in December and in the whole of 2022.A pick-up in base oils imports from Canada in January cushioned the fall in shipments from South Korea.Petro-Canada America was the main beneficiary of the rise in volumes from the North American country.Its higher share of US base oils shipments made it the country’s third-largest importer in January.ExxonMobil was the US’ fifth-largest base oils importer in January, with most of its supplies originating from the Netherlands..SK Lubricants US’ largest base oils importer in 2022
