Pennzoil US’ largest base oils importer in April

US blender Pennzoil-Quaker State was the US’ largest base oils importer in April as it took delivery of a surge in supplies from Qatar.

Its share of base oils imports rose to more than 32pc of the total, EIA data showed.

The share rebounded from an unusually low level of little more than 3pc of the total in March.

US base oils imports from Qatar fell to a thirteen-month low in March before rebounding in April.

The rise in shipments from the Mideast Gulf country helped to lift total US base oils imports in April to a six-month high of 1.63mn bl.

Shell US Trading was the US’ second-largest base oils importer in April for the first time in more than a year.

Its share of more than 16pc of the total rose from close to 14pc in March as it also benefited from a pick-up in flows from the Mideast Gulf.

Penthol was the US’ third-largest importer in April as its share recovered to close to 14pc of the total, from less than 8pc the previous month.

SK Enmove Americas was the US’ fourth-largest importer as its share fell to around 12pc of the total.

It had been the US’ largest base oils importer in March.