Sweden’s 2021 base oil exports rise

Sweden’s base oil exports rose in 2021 on the back of a strong pick-up in shipments in the second half of the year.

Total exports of 249,430t in 2021 rose by 29pc from less than 195,000t the previous year, EU data showed.

The volume also exceeded export levels of more than 235,000t in 2019.

Sweden’s base oil production capacity is close to 400,000 t/yr. Most of that volume moves to overseas markets.

The rise in exports in 2021 was the first in at least five years. There had been a steady drop in shipments in the interim.

Belgium remained the largest destination for the supplies in 2021. Finland, Denmark and Norway combined were the destinations for close to a fifth of the supplies.

Exports to Germany showed a sharper rise than to those other outlets, with shipments rising more than 80pc from the previous year.

Sweden’s base oil exports came to 138,990t in the second half of the year. The volume rose from 110,440t in the first half, when there was a marked slowdown in shipments in May and June.