The South American country’s output of base oil – primarily consisting of API Group I oils – declined to 44,000 metric tons in January, down from 46,000 tons in the same month last year and 21% lower than 56,000 tons in January 2020, according to data released by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels.
Sequentially, January’s production this year was up 2% from December last year.
Base oil plants in Brail produced 548,000 tons of base stocks during 2021, a 23% jump from 446,000 tons in 2020. Monthly production peaked at more than 50,000 tons in August and October.
The country imported 46,000 tons of base oil in January, down 44% from 82,000 tons in the same month of 2021, and 15% above 40,000 tons in January 2020. This year’s January import total was lower than in any month in 2021, except for 29,000 tons in December.
The majority of the base oil that Brazil imports comes from the United States, and most of that is API Group II. Base oil imports increased 30% in 2021, when the country imported 998,000 tons. Monthly totals peaked at more than 134,000 tons in both February and March and exceeded 90,000 tons four other times – in July and September, October and November.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, Brazil imported volumes of base oil similar to the amount that it produced, but while domestic output dropped during 2020 – falling below 30,000 tons per month from April through July – imports rose, peaking at 129,000 tons in November 2020.