Indonesia March Grp I exports stay low

Indonesia’s Group I base oils exports stayed low in March as scheduled plant maintenance work cut supply.

Rising domestic consumption of the country’s Group I base oils had already slashed availability of exports for most of the past year.

Base oils exports of 2,070t in March rose from 1,890t the previous month, government data showed.

Exports of 9,630t in the first quarter of the year were down from almost 23,000t during the same period last year.

A large portion of the exports early last year moved to China.

Less than 100t of base oils moved to China in the first three months of this year.

China relied more on shipments from Thailand to cover its bright stock requirements.