Japan’s base oils output stayed lower than usual in December, curbing availability of supplies for the export market especially.The drop in supplies slashed the Asia-Pacific market’s surplus availability of Group I base oils.The lower supply in turn compounded the impact of a drop in production from any of the remaining Group I producers in the region.The shutdown of both of Thailand’s Group I plants from second-half January duly left the Asia-Pacific region with a shortage of Group I base oils.Japan’s base oils output of 192,300 kilolitres (170,000t) in December edged up from close to 186,000kl the previous month, government data showed.Output rose following the completion of maintenance work of a Group I base oils unit at end-November.The country’s base oils output still fell by 11pc in December and for a ninth month from year-earlier levels.The prolonged contraction followed the closure of one Group I base oils plant in second-half 2022, and another Group I plant in the fourth quarter of last year.The slump in production capacity cut Japan’s base oils output to 2.38mn kl in 2023, down 6pc from the previous year.Lower output cut Japan’s surplus supply for shipment to overseas markets.The country’s base oils exports duly fell in December to their lowest in more than a decade..Thailand’s Dec base oils output falls
Japan’s base oils output stayed lower than usual in December, curbing availability of supplies for the export market especially.The drop in supplies slashed the Asia-Pacific market’s surplus availability of Group I base oils.The lower supply in turn compounded the impact of a drop in production from any of the remaining Group I producers in the region.The shutdown of both of Thailand’s Group I plants from second-half January duly left the Asia-Pacific region with a shortage of Group I base oils.Japan’s base oils output of 192,300 kilolitres (170,000t) in December edged up from close to 186,000kl the previous month, government data showed.Output rose following the completion of maintenance work of a Group I base oils unit at end-November.The country’s base oils output still fell by 11pc in December and for a ninth month from year-earlier levels.The prolonged contraction followed the closure of one Group I base oils plant in second-half 2022, and another Group I plant in the fourth quarter of last year.The slump in production capacity cut Japan’s base oils output to 2.38mn kl in 2023, down 6pc from the previous year.Lower output cut Japan’s surplus supply for shipment to overseas markets.The country’s base oils exports duly fell in December to their lowest in more than a decade..Thailand’s Dec base oils output falls
