The Netherlands’ base oils output stayed unusually high in September for a fourth month, adding to a surge in Europe’s premium-grade base oils supply in the third quarter of the year.The country's base oils and lube output of 98,000 tonnes in September rose from 93,000 tonnes the previous month and held above the 90,000-tonne level for a fourth month, government data showed.The last time output held consistently at such high levels was in 2021.The Netherlands is home to Europe’s sole virgin Group II base oils plant.The sustained surge in output lifted production to more than 530,000 tonnes in the five months to September.The volume contrasted with a slump in output to less than 180,000 tonnes during the previous five months to April.The contrast partly reflected the impact of plant maintenance earlier this year. The unusually steep rebound in output since the completion of the maintenance work magnified the difference.Most of the Netherlands’ supplies stayed in Europe during the third quarter of the year.The country’s base oils exports to non-EU markets fell sharply in the third quarter from the previous three months and versus year-earlier levels.Europe’s higher-than-usual imports from markets producing Group II base oils added to regional supply.Europe’s total supply of the premium-grade base oils duly held at more than 160,000 tonnes in September for a third month.Supply of more than 550,000 tonnes in the third quarter was up from less than 400,000 tonnes during the previous three months and the highest quarterly volume in at least five years.The rise in supply left Europe with increasingly plentiful availability of Group II base oils at the same time as regional lube consumption extended its fall.The contrasting supply-demand dynamics put pressure on the premium-grade product to boost its share of a shrinking market..Europe’s Sept Group III supply falls.Europe’s September base oils exports fall
