Base oils
Group I · II · III · IVSN-series Group I, Group II, Group III and PAO base stocks, sold against a contract specification.
Products
Base oils, additives & catalysts
A second product group alongside crude, gas, fuels and urea: Group I to Group IV base oils, lubricant additive packages and refinery catalysts, sourced from licensed manufacturers and established distributors and sold against a written specification.
Lubricants & refinery supplies
Three product lines, one standard
Choose a product line for its grades, specifications, pricing basis and market context.
Lubricant additives
Packages & componentsPerformance packages and single components for engine, gear, hydraulic and industrial oils.
Refinery catalysts
Fresh · regenerated · spentHydroprocessing, FCC, reforming and dewaxing catalysts, with handling of regenerated and spent material.
Classification
How base oils are grouped
The American Petroleum Institute sorts base stocks into five groups by saturates, sulphur and viscosity index. The group decides what a blender can make from the oil and what it costs.
| Group | Typical process | Saturates | Sulphur | Viscosity index | Common grades |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group I | Solvent refining | < 90 % | > 0.03 % | 80 – 119 | SN 70, SN 150, SN 500, SN 650, Bright Stock 150 |
| Group II | Hydrocracking and hydrofinishing | ≥ 90 % | ≤ 0.03 % | 80 – 119 | N 70 / 60N, N 150, N 500, N 600 |
| Group III | Severe hydrocracking, catalytic dewaxing or gas-to-liquids | ≥ 90 % | ≤ 0.03 % | ≥ 120 | 4 cSt, 6 cSt, 8 cSt (Group III+ at VI ≥ 130) |
| Group IV | Synthesis (oligomerisation of alpha-olefins) | — | — | about 125 – 170 | PAO 4, 6, 8, 10; mPAO 40, 100 |
| Group V | All other base stocks | — | — | — | Esters, naphthenics, polyalkylene glycols |
Market prices
Where base oil prices come from
Base oils are not exchange-traded. Prices are assessed weekly by price-reporting agencies for each region — FOB Asia and ex-tank Singapore, CFR India and China, FOB Rotterdam and ex-tank Europe, FOB Middle East Gulf and the US Gulf Coast — and posted by the large producers for their domestic customers.
Under those assessments sit two things we can show live: the price of crude, which sets the cost of vacuum gas oil, and the price of gasoil, which competes with base oil for the same refinery streams. Grades and pricing in detail
Base oil, additive and catalyst prices are assessed by price-reporting agencies and by producers’ postings. Those assessments are licensed and are not reproduced here. We send written price indications on request, indexed to the published assessment of the buyer’s choice.
Brent crude — live price
Market data: TradingView. Indicative and possibly delayed; not for trading.
Crude sets the cost of the vacuum gas oil that base oil plants run on. All live markets
Gasoil — live price
Market data: TradingView. Indicative and possibly delayed; not for trading.
Base oils compete with gasoil for the same refinery streams; the gasoil crack is the first thing a base oil trader checks. All live markets
Commercial terms
What every contract sets out
Base oils move in bulk by chemical tanker, in flexitanks and ISO tanks, or in drums and IBCs; additives and catalysts in drums, IBCs, big bags and flow bins. The same written terms apply as for our energy products.
Trade structuring & logistics- Delivery terms
- FOB, CFR and CIF (Incoterms® 2020); other terms by agreement
- Inspection
- Quantity and quality certified at the load port by an independent inspection company agreed by both parties
- Documents
- Commercial invoice, bill of lading, certificate of quality, certificate of quantity and certificate of origin
- Payment
- Documentary letter of credit, or another bank instrument agreed in the contract
We do not publish price lists or “available allocations”. Offers are issued in writing only, from an @alupetra.com address, once KYC is complete for both parties.
Request an offer
Send us the grade or product, specification, quantity, packaging, delivery terms and destination. We will respond after the KYC stage.