Asia

·         Cargo of Group II base oils loaded from Taiwan in past week before heading to China.

·         Taiwan’s total exports slowed markedly in second-half April, leaving the full-month volume well below March levels.

·         Small cargo of Group II heavy grades set to load from Taiwan in early May, with Southeast Asia the likely destination.

·         Cargo loaded from South Korea in early April before heading to Saudi Arabia via India, set to arrive in first-half May.

·         South Korea’s base oils shipment volumes in April pointed to a marked slowdown from March.

Middle East/Europe

·         Cargo loaded from Saudi Arabia at end-April before heading to India, set to arrive in first-half May.

·         Cargo loaded from Saudi Arabia last week before heading to India, set to arrive in coming days.

·         Saudi Arabia’s base oils shipment volumes in April showed signs of holding at elevated levels.

·         Spain’s premium-grade base oils shipments in April pointed to a marked slowdown from March.

·         Cargo of very-light grade base oils loaded from Spain around mid-March before heading to India, set to arrive in the coming days.

·         Cargo loaded from northwest Europe in early March before heading to Singapore, set to arrive in the coming week.

Americas

·         Large cargo loaded from US in second-half April before heading to northwest Europe, set to arrive in second-half May.

·         US shipment volumes to Europe showed signs of rising strongly in April, with cargo loadings picking up during the second half of the month.

·         Cargo loaded from the US Gulf coast in early April before heading to Nigeria, set to arrive next week.