Cargo Flows

Global Base Oils Cargo Flows: Week To 6 February

Iain Pocock

  • Unusually large flow of shipments from China to Singapore extends into a third week

  • India takes delivery of shipments from Taiwan, Europe and Russia, with US cargoes en-route

  • Brazil takes delivery of a wave of shipments from US in early February

·         Group II cargo-loadings from Taiwan pause in past week, after a surge in shipments in Dec 2025 and Jan 2026.

·         Several large cargoes loaded from Taiwan in H2 Jan 2026 before heading to India, with first shipment set to arrive in the coming days.

·         Singapore took delivery of another cargo from China in the past week, extending for a third straight week a wave of shipments from that market.

·         Cargo of Group III base oils loaded from Indonesia in late-Jan 2026 before heading to northwest Europe, set to arrive in H1 March.

·         Large cargo of premium-grade base oils loaded from Qatar in early-Feb 2026 before heading to US, set to arrive around mid-March.

·         Cargo of Group III base oils loaded from Bahrain at end-Jan 2026 before heading to US, set  arrive in H1 March.

·         Cargo of Group III base oils loaded from the UAE in H1 Dec 2025 before heading to northwest Europe, set to arrive in the coming days.

·         Large cargo loaded from Saudi Arabia in recent days; size of shipment suggests India is likely destination.

·         Cargo of premium-grade base oils loaded from Spain at end-Jan 2026 before heading to northwest Europe, set to arrive in the coming days.

·         Shipment is first in almost a month to move to northwest Europe.

·         Cargo loaded from northwest Europe at end-Dec 2025 before heading to India, set to arrive in the coming days.

·         Cargo loaded from Russia at end-Dec 2025 before heading to India, arrived in recent days.

·         Cargo of Group II base oils loaded from US Gulf coast in early-Feb 2026 before heading to India, set to arrive around mid-March.

·         Brazil takes delivery in early-Feb 2026 of large wave of cargoes that loaded from US in January.  

·         Pause in loading of large Group I cargoes from Argentina extends through Jan 2026 and into start of February.

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Base Oils and Lubricants: Weekly Global Market Review - 24 Jul '26