Asia’s premium-grade base oils imports from the Middle East rose to a six-month high in September as supply recovered following a heavy round of plant-maintenance in that region.Asia’s total imports from Bahrain, UAE and Qatar combined rose to more than 90,000 tonnes in September, government data showed.The volume rose from less than 65,000 tonnes in July and August and from less than 40,000 tonnes in June..The slowdown in imports followed overlapping maintenance-work on Group III units in Bahrain and UAE during the second quarter of the year.The impact of the shutdowns extended into the start of the third quarter..Like Asia, the US and Europe were also likely to see a recovery in imports from the Middle East from the end of the third quarter of the year. Tighter supply from the Middle East in the second and third quarters of the year coincided with firmer global Group III base oils prices relative to other base oils grades.Supply is now set to improve..Asia's September base oils exports to Middle East rise.Asia’s August lube demand, base oils supply rises
