The United States exported 22% less base oil in July – as shipments to Colombia and Brazil plummeted – and imported 21% less, according to data released by a U.S. government agency.
The Energy Information Administration reported that the U.S. exported 3.6 million barrels of base oil in July, compared to 4.6 million in the same month last year.
Exports of base oil to Colombia tumbled 93% to 129,000 barrels, from 1.7 million barrels, while the volume transported to Brazil jumped 32% to 422,000 barrels. The volume of base oil sent to Canada decreased 11% to 288,000 barrels.
Base oil exports to Belgium decreased 10% to 502,000 barrels.
Bucking the downward trend, the volume of base oil exported to Mexico surged 76% to 1.1 million barrels, compared to 652,000 barrels.
In July, U.S. base oil import volume fell to 1.4 million barrels, compared to 1.7 million barrels.
Base oil imports from South Korea dropped 68% to 128,000 barrels, and the volume imported from Indonesia fell 34% to 112,000 barrels.
Among Middle Eastern countries that export base oil to the U.S., volumes from Qatar declined 20% to 332,000 barrels, and exports from the United Arab Emirates plummeted 86% to 40,000 barrels, while the base oil imported from Bahrain jumped 88% to 120,000 barrels.
The U.S. imported 291,000 barrels of base oil from Canada in July, a 12% increase.