Europe’s base oils imports from markets outside the region held firm in September as a pick-up in shipments from Asia cushioned a slowdown in supplies from the US and Mideast Gulf.Total imports of more than 160,000t in September fell from close to 169,000t the previous month, government data showed.The volume held above average imports of 146,000 t/month over the past year and rose from year-earlier levels for the first time in four months.Total imports of 1.39mn t in the first nine months of the year were still down from 1.51mn t during the same period last year.The lower imports this year contrasted with a pick-up in base oils output in the region.The dynamic left Europe’s supply similar to year-earlier levels.But imports of around 455,000t in the third quarter of the year fell from the previous quarter and from close to 583,000t during the same period last year.Europe’s base oils output was unlikely to make up the shortfall.Output of around 775,000t in July and August combined was already down from close to 800,000t during the same period last year..Europe's September exports stay lower
Europe’s base oils imports from markets outside the region held firm in September as a pick-up in shipments from Asia cushioned a slowdown in supplies from the US and Mideast Gulf.Total imports of more than 160,000t in September fell from close to 169,000t the previous month, government data showed.The volume held above average imports of 146,000 t/month over the past year and rose from year-earlier levels for the first time in four months.Total imports of 1.39mn t in the first nine months of the year were still down from 1.51mn t during the same period last year.The lower imports this year contrasted with a pick-up in base oils output in the region.The dynamic left Europe’s supply similar to year-earlier levels.But imports of around 455,000t in the third quarter of the year fell from the previous quarter and from close to 583,000t during the same period last year.Europe’s base oils output was unlikely to make up the shortfall.Output of around 775,000t in July and August combined was already down from close to 800,000t during the same period last year..Europe's September exports stay lower