Group II/III capacity in EMEA is expected to grow four-fold as nearly 4 million t/y of new capacity streams in the Middle East and Europe beginning the second half of this year through 2015. (The long-awaited gas-to-liquids base oils from the Shell/Qatar Petroleum Pearl project may be flowing as you read these words. See Tim Sullivans Pearls Big Debut, starting on page 28.)

Existing and announced capacities and much more are disclosed on our 2011 EMEA Base Stock Guide, enclosed for print edition subscribers with this issue. This years guide includes 62 mineral base oil refineries, 11 modern rerefineries and 63 plants that produce nonconventional base stocks (PAO, esters, PIBs, PAGs, phosphate esters and silicones) – identifying owners, locations and capacities where relevant.

In Western Europe, mineral base oil refining capacity now totals 7.7 million t/y. Group I accounts for 82 percent, Group II (all rerefined) for 4 percent, Group III for 6 percent and naphthenics for 7 percent. (Total doesnt equal 100 because of rounding.)

Central and Eastern Europes refining capacity is 5.2 million t/y, 97 percent of which is Group I. In the Middle East, capacity is 2.1 million t/y, and in Africa it is 1.1 million t/y, all Group I.

Base oil capacity in Western Europe has slipped less than 3 percent, from 7.9 million to 7.7 million t/y, since 2008. By contrast, in Central and Eastern Europe reported capacity plummeted from 7.2 million to 5.2 million t/y in the same period.

This annual snapshot of the regions base stock supply is produced in close cooperation with Pathmaster Marketing Ltd. of Woking, U.K. In addition to Pathmaster, we thank the many individuals and companies that assisted in providing data.

For more information about LNG Publishing Co.s three base stock guides (two global guides in addition to this regional guide), or to purchase copies, please visit www.LNGpublishing.com/ BaseStockGuide/index.cfm.