Castrol BP Petco was Vietnam’s largest base oils importer in December for the first time in four months as it boosted its import volumes.The joint venture between BP and Vietnam Petroleum Corp was also the country’s largest importer in 2022 even as its share of total imports edged down from the previous year.Vietnam Lubricants and Chemicals (Vilube) was Vietnam’s second-largest base oils importer in 2022 and Chevron Lubricants Vietnam the third largest.Vietnam’s base oils imports of 221,590t in 2022 rose by 11pc from 198,980t the previous year as strong economic growth boosted lubricants consumption..Vietnam's Dec base oils imports fall.Vietnam has no domestic base oils production capacity so relies entirely on imports to cover its requirements.Imports slowed in the final three months of the year to the lowest quarterly level in more than three years. The drop in supplies mirrored a similar slowdown in the pace of the country’s economic growth.Castrol BP Petco’s base oils imports also fell in the fourth quarter from the previous three months. But its shipments rebounded in December to a six-month high.The move boosted its share of Vietnam’s base oils imports in December to more than 33pc of the total volume. The share rose from less than 14pc the previous month to the highest since last February..The rise in shipments made Castrol BP Petco the country’s largest monthly importer for the seventh time in 2022 and the largest importer for the year.Its share of more than 18pc of Vietnam’s total imports in 2022 edged down from more than 19pc the previous year even as its total import volume rose..Idemitsu Lube Vietnam was the country’s second-largest base oils importer in December with a share of more than 30pc of the total.The surge in imports followed a pause in shipments the previous month and far exceeded its share of slightly more than 5pc of Vietnam’s total imports in 2022. The share rose from less than 3pc the previous year.Vilube, a subsidiary of Motul Asia Pacific, was Vietnam’s third-largest base oils importer in December with a share of more than 16pc of the total.The blender was the second-largest importer in 2022 as its share of shipments rose to more than 12pc of the total. It had been Vietnam’s third-largest importer in 2021..Shell Thailand’s largest lube supplier in 2022
