Singapore’s base oils exports recovered over the last four weeks amid a rebound in shipments from domestic sources.

A sharp slump in re-exports of supplies originating from other sources slowed the pace of the recovery.

The recovery in shipments followed a slowdown in the island-state’s base oils exports in recent weeks even after the start-up of new base oils production capacity at the end of the third quarter of the year.

Any extension of the recovery in shipments would coincide with signs of healthy exports from key sources like Taiwan, as well as a seasonal slowdown in demand in Asia during the winter months.

Singapore’s total base oils exports recovered to close to 150,000 tonnes in the four weeks to 12 November, government data showed.

The volume remained down from typical volumes of more than 170,000 t/month during the first nine months of the year.

The four-week volume remained lower mostly because of a slump in re-exports of supplies originating from other sources to the lowest level since January.

The fall in shipments muffled a recovery in exports from domestic sources to close to 132,000 tonnes over the last four weeks.

That volume was the highest in more than a month.