Pakistan’s April base oils imports rise

Pakistan’s base oils imports rose to a five-month high in April even as the country’s lube consumption slowed.

Imports of more than 21,400t in April rose from less than 18,000t the previous month, provisional customs data showed.

Total imports of 68,220t in the first four months of the year were still down 40pc from more than 113,000t during the same period last year.

The fall in imports triggered a slump in shipments from Singapore especially. Supplies from South Korea remained steadier.

Pakistan’s imports rose in April even as the country’s lube demand fell to a nine-month low in the face of slowing economic activity and a sustained slump in automobile sales and production.