US base oils exports to Latin America rose in December to the highest in more than six years as shipments to Brazil climbed to a record high.Exports to Brazil surged even as the country’s domestic base oils output rose and demand fell.The trend raised the prospect of cutting Brazil’s requirements for overseas supplies.The surge in US exports to Brazil in December likely added to the country’s surplus and its subsequent slowdown in requirements.Any such slowdown would force more US shipments to move to other markets instead.US base oils exports to Latin America, excluding Mexico, came to around 714,000bl (100,540t) in December.The volume rose from an already-high 580,000bl in November and for the eighth month in nine from year-earlier levels.The sustained rise in shipments lifted US exports to the region to a record-high 1.84mn bl in the fourth quarter of the year.US exports of more than 1.60mn bl to Latin America in the third quarter of the year had previously been the highest in more than six years.A surge in shipments to Brazil was a key factor behind the rise in exports.The pick-up in flows coincided with rising lube demand and extended plant-maintenance work in Brazil during the second half of last year.The country's lube demand then fell from December, while domestic base oils output extended a gradual recovery..US’ Dec base oils exports stay high.Brazil's Dec base oils supply exceeds demand
US base oils exports to Latin America rose in December to the highest in more than six years as shipments to Brazil climbed to a record high.Exports to Brazil surged even as the country’s domestic base oils output rose and demand fell.The trend raised the prospect of cutting Brazil’s requirements for overseas supplies.The surge in US exports to Brazil in December likely added to the country’s surplus and its subsequent slowdown in requirements.Any such slowdown would force more US shipments to move to other markets instead.US base oils exports to Latin America, excluding Mexico, came to around 714,000bl (100,540t) in December.The volume rose from an already-high 580,000bl in November and for the eighth month in nine from year-earlier levels.The sustained rise in shipments lifted US exports to the region to a record-high 1.84mn bl in the fourth quarter of the year.US exports of more than 1.60mn bl to Latin America in the third quarter of the year had previously been the highest in more than six years.A surge in shipments to Brazil was a key factor behind the rise in exports.The pick-up in flows coincided with rising lube demand and extended plant-maintenance work in Brazil during the second half of last year.The country's lube demand then fell from December, while domestic base oils output extended a gradual recovery..US’ Dec base oils exports stay high.Brazil's Dec base oils supply exceeds demand