Taiwan’s base oils exports fell in February after the unplanned shutdown of its sole base oils unit cut supply.Exports of 23,600t in February fell from more than 60,000t the previous month, government data showed.The January volume rose from less than 35,000t in total during the fourth quarter of last year.Taiwan’s Group II base oils plant was offline during most of that period because of scheduled maintenance work.The February volume was also lower because of the shutdown of the base oils plant in late January.This time the shutdown was unscheduled. The unit resumed operations in first-half February.The drop in shipments in February coincided with and cushioned the impact of a slowdown in Chinese demand during the lunar new year holidays that month.The lower-than-expected export volume in February also included a large cargo to India.The shipment cut further the volume of supplies available for China.Exports of 10,000t to the country in February fell from close to 36,000t the previous month.China’s domestic prices for imported Group II base oils rose relative to prices for domestic supplies throughout the month of February, ICIS data showed.The firmer prices reflected the tighter-than-expected supply.But the price rise was relatively small, especially compared with the fourth quarter of last year.The limited price reaction pointed to the relatively muted impact of the fall in supplies from Taiwan.Prices for imported supplies then fell relative to prices for domestic supplies in early March..China’s February base oils output falls.Taiwan’s Jan base oils exports surge
Taiwan’s base oils exports fell in February after the unplanned shutdown of its sole base oils unit cut supply.Exports of 23,600t in February fell from more than 60,000t the previous month, government data showed.The January volume rose from less than 35,000t in total during the fourth quarter of last year.Taiwan’s Group II base oils plant was offline during most of that period because of scheduled maintenance work.The February volume was also lower because of the shutdown of the base oils plant in late January.This time the shutdown was unscheduled. The unit resumed operations in first-half February.The drop in shipments in February coincided with and cushioned the impact of a slowdown in Chinese demand during the lunar new year holidays that month.The lower-than-expected export volume in February also included a large cargo to India.The shipment cut further the volume of supplies available for China.Exports of 10,000t to the country in February fell from close to 36,000t the previous month.China’s domestic prices for imported Group II base oils rose relative to prices for domestic supplies throughout the month of February, ICIS data showed.The firmer prices reflected the tighter-than-expected supply.But the price rise was relatively small, especially compared with the fourth quarter of last year.The limited price reaction pointed to the relatively muted impact of the fall in supplies from Taiwan.Prices for imported supplies then fell relative to prices for domestic supplies in early March..China’s February base oils output falls.Taiwan’s Jan base oils exports surge
