A significant portion of the worldās base oil production capacity is concentrated in a relatively small group of countries ā namely the United States, China, South Korea, India, Russia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, Spain, Belgium and Italy.
This leaves the majority of countries with little or no domestic base oil production. Despite this imbalance, a few of the countries that lack substantial capacity remain noteworthy due to their potential or unique challenges.
Big Gets Bigger: Comparing Worldās Biggest Base Oil Plants in 2005 and 2025
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | 2005 | Capcity (t/y) | API Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | Motiva, Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.Ā | 1,248,000Ā Ā | II, IIIĀ |
| 44 | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | S-Oil, Onsan, South KoreaĀ | 1,216,000Ā | I, II, IIIĀ |
| 45 | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | ExcelĀ Paralubes, Westlake, Louisiana, U.S.Ā | 1,111,000Ā | IIĀ |
| 46 | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | ExxonMobil, Baytown, Texas, U.S.Ā | 1,081,000Ā | I, IIĀ |
| 47 | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | ExxonMobil, Augusta, ItalyĀ | 908,000Ā | IĀ |
| 48 | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | ExxonMobil, Jurong Island, SingaporeĀ | 901,000Ā | IIĀ |
| 49 | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | Socar, Baku, AzerbaijanĀ | 845,000Ā | IĀ |
| 50 | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | SK, Ulsan, South KoreaĀ | 832,000Ā | II, IIIĀ |
| 51 | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | ExxonMobil, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.Ā | 830,000Ā | IĀ |
| 52 | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | user_oc_299 | 29/01/2026 08:53 AM | Chevron, Richmond, California, U.S.Ā | 746,000Ā | IIĀ |
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | 2025 | Capcity (t/y) | API Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | ExxonMobil, Jurong Island, SingaporeĀ | 2,525,000Ā | IIĀ |
| 2 | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | S-Oil, Onsan, South KoreaĀ | 2,122,000Ā | I, II, IIIĀ |
| 3 | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | Motiva, Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.Ā | 2,017,000Ā | II, IIIĀ |
| 4 | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | Qinghe Chemical Technology, Zibo, ChinaĀ | 1,400,000Ā | II, IIIĀ |
| 5 | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | Shandong Qingyuan, Zibo, ChinaĀ | 1,400,000Ā | IIĀ |
| 6 | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | Shell-Qatar Petroleum, Ras Laffan, QatarĀ | 1,372,000Ā | IIIĀ |
| 7 | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | ExxonMobil, Baytown, Texas, U.S.Ā | 1,369,000Ā | I, IIĀ |
| 8 | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | GS-Caltex, Yeousu, South KoreaĀ | 1,297,000Ā | II, IIIĀ |
| 9 | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | SKĀ Enmove, Ulsan, South KoreaĀ | 1,267,000Ā | IIIĀ |
| 10 | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | user_oc_299 | 08/02/2026 07:13 PM | Chevron, Pascagoula, Louisiana, U.S.Ā | 1,251,000Ā | IIĀ |
The worldās 10 largest base oil refineries account for about a quarter of the worldās production capacity. Six of them are located in South Korea and the United States. About three-quarters of their capacity is API Group II.
The trend has been for plants to grow ever bigger. In 2005, one of the worldās largest was Baku, which 20 years ago produced 845,000 tons per year. This has since been eclipsed
Over the same period, numerous base oil refining units, especially GroupāÆI, have shut down across the world as global demand shifted and refineries were restructured or repurposed.
The majority of them were Group I units. While the grade still has a firm place in the finished lubricants market, it is slowly being pushed out by Group II base stocks, which can often be less expensive. This trend continued in 2023 when Eneos closed a Group I plant in Japan and Sapref shuttered a Group I facility in South Africa.
Refinery Openings and Closures
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Year | Company | Location | Country | Group | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2027 | Indian Oil Corp. | Haldia | India | III | due |
| 2 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2026 | Indian Oil Corp. | Panipat | India | II, III | due |
| 3 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2026 | Lub-rref | Julda | Baghladesh | II | due |
| 4 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2025 | BASF | Ludwigshafen | Germany | PIB | opened |
| 5 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2025 | PKN Orlen | Gdansk | Poland | II, III | opened |
| 6 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2025 | Hill Group | Klaipeda | Lithuania | II | opened |
| 7 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2025 | PetroChina | Dalian | China | I | closed |
| 8 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2024 | Blue Tide | Baytown | U.S. | II+ | opened |
| 9 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2024 | Oleon | Conroe | U.S. | esters | opened |
| 10 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2024 | Puraglobe | Tampa | U.S. | III, III+ | opened |
| 11 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2024 | Recvoil | Santiago | Chile | TBD | opened |
| 12 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2024 | Oleon | Baytown | U.S. | esters | opened |
| 13 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2024 | Vadodara | Gujarat | India | II, III | opened |
| 14 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2024 | Eni | Livorno | Italy | I, II | closed |
| 15 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2023 | Qinghe Chemical Technology | Zibo | China | II | opened |
| 16 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2023 | Gazprom Neft | Omsk | Russia | II, III | opened |
| 17 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2023 | Puraglobe | Elsteraue | Germany | III | opened |
| 18 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2023 | Eneos | Wakayama | Japan | I | closed |
| 19 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2023 | SaprefĀ | Durban | South Africa | I | closed |
| 20 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2022 | Hebei Feitian Petrochemical | Xinji | China | II | opened |
| 21 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2022 | Eneos | Negishi | Japan | I | closed |
| 22 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2022 | Shell | Pulau Bukom | Singapore | I | closed |
| 23 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2021 | SK-Repsol | Cartagena | Spain | II, III | opened |
| 24 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2021 | Hitech Oils & Greases | Ain Sokhna | Egypt | I | opened |
| 25 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2021 | Galp | Matoshinos | Portugal | I | closed |
| 26 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2020 | Total | Gonfreville | France | I | closed |
| 27 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2019 | Shandong Qingyuan | Zibo | China | II | opened |
| 28 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2019 | ExxonMobil | Rotterdam | Netherlands | III | opened |
| 29 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2019 | LyondellBasell | Houston | U.S. | II/naphthenic | closed |
| 30 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2018 | Hengli Petrochemical | Dalian | China | II, III | opened |
| 31 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2018 | Imperial Oil | Strathcona | Canada | I | closed |
| 32 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2017 | CNOOC | Taizhou | China | II, III | opened |
| 33 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2017 | Avista | Kalundborg | Denmark | I | closed |
| 34 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2016 | Gunvor | Rotterdam | Netherlands | I | closed |
| 35 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2016 | Shell | Pernis | Netherlands | I | closed |
| 36 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2015 | Colas | Dunkirk | France | I, III | closed |
| 37 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2015 | Lukoil | Nizhny Novgorod | Russia | I | closed |
| 38 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2015 | Samir | Mohammedia | Morocco | I | closed |
| 39 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2014 | Hyundai Shell Base Oil | Daesan | South Korea | II | opened |
| 40 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2014 | Azerneftyag | Baku | Azerbaijan | I | closed |
| 41 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2014 | CPC-Shell | Kaohsiung | Taiwan | I | closed |
| 42 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2014 | Safor | Durban | South Africa | I | closed |
| 43 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2012 | Russneft | Orsk | Russia | I | closed |
| 44 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2011 | Neste/Bapco | Sitra | Bahrain | III | opened |
| 45 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2011 | Petroplus | Petit-Couronne | France | I | closed |
| 46 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2011 | Imperial Oil | Sarnia | Canada | I | closed |
| 47 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2010 | Shell | Montreal | Canada | I | closed |
| 48 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2009 | PetroChina | Dagang | China | I | closed |
| 49 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2008 | Formosa | MaiāLiao | Taiwan | II | opened |
| 50 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2008 | Pertamina-SK | Dumai | Indonesia | III | opened |
| 51 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2008 | Petronas | Melaka | Malaysia | II, III | opened |
| 52 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2007 | GS Caltex | Yeosu | South Korea | II, III | opened |
| 53 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2007 | Plama Petrol. Ref. | Pleven | Bulgaria | I | closed |
| 54 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2006 | BP | Coryton | UK | I | closed |
| 55 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2006 | Cepsa | Huelva | Spain | I | closed |
| 56 | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | user_oc_299 | 22/12/2025 12:06 AM | 2005 | Shell | Hamburg | Germany | I | closed |