Global Market Review 
Market signals

Base Oils and Lubricants : Weekly Global Market Review - 9 Jan '26

Iain Pocock

·         Global: Base oils supply slides to a five-month low in October as plant outages curb output across Europe, the Americas and Asia.

·         South Korea: Market flips into surplus in November for the first time in three months, with high output contrasting with falling exports.

·         Europe: Supply surplus narrows in October as Group I and Group III volumes fall, while Group II availability holds firmer.

·         Brazil: Supply exceeds demand in November for the first time in four months as imports jump to their highest in more than a year.

·         Argentina: Fundamentals stay tighter in November — lower output and slumping imports leave demand outpacing supply for a second month.

·         Global cargo flows: A fresh wave of Group III shipments from Asia and the Middle East is set to reach US in early January. 

Europe December Group II Supply Rises, Group III Risk Adds Appeal

Asia January Base Oil Exports Hit 17-Month High, Supply Risks Rise

Brazil’s January Base Oils Balance Tightens On Lower Supply

US December Supply Rises To 4-Month High, Adds To Year-End Surplus

Europe December Group I Supply Falls, Q4 Supply At Multi-Year Low