South Africa’s base oils imports rose in June to their highest in more than six years amid a simultaneous rise in shipments from Europe, US and Saudi Arabia.Total imports of 42,760 kilolitres (37,880t) in June rose from less than 30,000kl the previous month and by 9pc from year-earlier levels, government data showed.The year-on-year increase was the tenth in eleven months and lifted total imports to 186,310kl in the first half of the year. The volume rose by 16pc from year-earlier levels to the highest since 2017.Base oils imports got a boost from a sharp pick-up in shipments from Saudi Arabia to 9,230kl in June and to 18,840kl in the second quarter of the year.The monthly and quarterly volumes from Saudi Arabia were record highs.South Africa’s total imports from Saudi Arabia came to less than 18,000kl in 2022 and less than 1,000kl in 2021..Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu/Jeddah June exports rise
