Capacity
The Middle East is a major global base oil–producing region, with total installed capacity estimated at almost 5 million metric tons per year, accounting for around 7.5% of global capacity.
The region is characterized by large-scale, export-oriented facilities and a strong focus on Group II and Group III base oils, reflecting access to advantaged feedstocks and integrated refining and petrochemical complexes.
Saudi Arabia is the region’s largest base oil producer, with total capacity estimated at approximately 1.22 million t/y, predominantly Group II and Group III. Major producers include Saudi Aramco, S-Oil Saudi Arabia (joint venture) and Petro Rabigh, with production largely oriented toward export markets in Asia, Europe and Africa.
United Arab Emirates has base oil capacity estimated at approximately 600,000 t/y, led by ADNOC Refining and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. affiliates. Production is spread across Group I to III, supporting both domestic demand and exports.
Bahrain is a significant producer relative to its size, with capacity of approximately 400,000 t/y, driven by the Bapco refinery, which produces mainly Group III base oils. A substantial share of output is exported.
Qatar has base oil capacity of approximately 1.3 million t/y, primarily Group III, produced by QatarEnergy and its joint ventures. Output is largely export-oriented.
Exports
The Middle East is a major net exporter of base oils, with exports dominated by Group II and Group III. Export destinations include Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and South America.
Saudi Arabia is the region’s largest exporter, accounting for a substantial share of Middle East base oil exports, led by Saudi Aramco and affiliated joint ventures. The UAE, Bahrain and Qatar are also key exporters, leveraging geographic proximity to major shipping routes and growing global demand for high-quality base oils.
Imports
Despite substantial production capacity, the Middle East imports limited volumes of base oils, mainly Group I and specialty grades, to meet specific domestic requirements.
Key importers include Turkey and Jordan, while the UAE and Saudi Arabia import niche grades not produced locally. Imports are sourced primarily from Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Growth Drivers
Base oil demand growth in the Middle East is supported by expanding automotive fleets, rising industrial lubricant demand from energy, construction and manufacturing sectors and continued investment in downstream refining and petrochemical integration. Long-term growth is underpinned by economic diversification initiatives, infrastructure development and increasing emphasis on higher-performance lubricants across the region.