SK Lubricants Americas was the US’ largest base oils importer in December and in 2022, reflecting its role as a key supplier of Group III base oils for the US market.The unit of South Korea’s SK Enmove accounted for more than 25pc of the US’ total base oils imports in December, following an unusual pause in shipments the previous month, EIA data showed.The share was higher than its share of almost 22pc of the US’ total base oils imports in 2022.SK Enmove is the world’s largest producer of Group III base oils, with plants in South Korea, Indonesia and Spain..Group III base oils accounted for the largest share of almost all of the US’ other largest base oils importers in 2022.The exception was ExxonMobil, whose supplies typically originated from sources without Group III base oils production capacity.The trend reflected the US’ almost complete lack of Group III production capacity in its domestic market and its reliance on overseas supplies to cover the structural shortfall.The lack of capacity contrasted with growing US Group III base oils consumption, triggering rising imports of the premium-grade supplies..US' Dec base oils/lube output rises.US base oil imports of almost 18mn bl (2.52mn t) in 2022 rose by 6pc from around 16.90mn bl the previous year to a record high, according to the EIA.US blender Pennzoil Quaker State was the US’ second-largest base oils importer in December with a share of almost 16pc of the total. The share fell from more than 34pc in November to the lowest since last February.The blender was the US’ second-largest base oils importer in 2022 with a share of more than 21pc of the total.Penthol was the US’ third-largest base oils importer in December and in 2022. Its share of December imports rebounded to almost 13pc of the total, after a pause in shipments the previous month.Penthol is the exclusive distributor of UAE refiner ADNOC’s Group III base oils in the US..S. Korea’s Jan exports to Americas hold firm
