Where does India's base oil come from?

By India's own customs declarations South Korea supplied 44.0% of 2025 tonnage at USD 835/t CIF, then Singapore (14.3%), the United Arab Emirates (7.9%) and Saudi Arabia (6.3%); the United States, Taiwan, Spain, Qatar, Türkiye and Malaysia shipped smaller volumes. A customs origin is the consigning country, not the refinery, so every lot CBIL brokers carries the producing refinery's COA and a certificate of origin naming that refinery.

What registration does an Indian base oil importer need?

Since 1 April 2024 a base oil importer is a 'producer' under the Hazardous and Other Wastes Second Amendment Rules, 2023, and must register with the Central Pollution Control Board under the extended producer responsibility rules for used oil. CBIC Instruction 13/2024 of 17 May 2024 tells customs to clear base oil under 2710 19 71 against that registration or an EPR undertaking, so the importer of record's registration is the first thing to settle.

Group II or Group III into India?

Both, and both are growing. Of 3.69 million tonnes imported in fiscal 2023-24, 1.52 million were Group II and 954,000 t Group III, about a quarter of the total, for engine oils that need higher viscosity index. Indian refiners plan most of their new capacity in Group II and III by 2028, so the grade, the viscosity and the approvals the blender needs decide which refinery an enquiry goes to.

Indian Ocean · India

Base Oil CFR India: Group I, II and III for Indian Lubricant Blenders

India imported 3.0 million tonnes of base oil in 2025, 10.7% more than in 2024, and South Korea shipped 44% of it

India buys its base oil under its own eight-digit line 2710.19.71, which CBIC names 'base oil' and keeps apart from the lubricating oils on 2710.19.72 to 2710.19.90. On that line India declared 3,004,248 t of imports in 2025, worth USD 2,583.7 million, an average of USD 860 per tonne CIF, after 2,713,619 t at USD 897 in 2024, a rise of 10.7% in tonnage. One origin carries the trade: South Korea shipped 1,322,161 t (44.0%) at USD 835/t in 2025, after 42.4% in 2024. Singapore followed with 428,397 t (14.3%) at USD 965/t, the United Arab Emirates with 237,970 t (7.9%) at USD 783/t and Saudi Arabia with 189,119 t (6.3%) at USD 797/t; the United States (140,877 t at USD 1,049), Taiwan (138,980 t), Spain (91,516 t), Qatar (84,748 t), Türkiye (67,693 t) and Malaysia (56,487 t) shipped the rest of the larger lots. The grades split the market: of 3.69 million tonnes imported in fiscal 2023-24 on Lube Report's count, 1.52 million tonnes were Group II, 954,000 t Group III, about a quarter of the total, and 511,000 t Group I. Demand keeps rising, with lubricant and grease consumption at 4.83 million tonnes in 2025 against 4.42 million in 2024, and prices move with the Asian market: Argus assessed Group I SN150 at USD 731/t and SN500 at USD 902/t CFR India in October 2025, and Group II N150 at USD 793/t and N500 at USD 821/t in February 2026, when monthly imports reached 307,422 t.

CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers Group I SN150, SN500 and bright stock, Group II N150 and N500 and Group III 4 and 6 cSt CFR the Indian ports, in bulk parcels on chemical and product tankers or in flexitanks and ISO tanks for container lots. Every lot ships against the producing refinery's COA and a certificate of origin naming the refinery, with SGS or Intertek inspection at load. Since 1 April 2024 a base oil importer counts as a producer under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Second Amendment Rules, 2023, so it must hold CPCB registration under the extended producer responsibility rules for used oil, and CBIC Instruction 13/2024 of 17 May 2024 tells customs to release base oil against that registration or an EPR undertaking. IGST is 18% on the duty-paid value. Domestic capacity is growing: the national oil companies plan to take base oil output from 1.41 to 2.91 million tonnes a year by 2028, mostly Group II and III, which will compete first with imported Group II. Send the grade and group, the quantity, bulk or container, the discharge port, the importer of record and its CPCB EPR registration, the delivery month and the payment terms, and the enquiry is screened and worked against them.

Also on this lane: Group III base oil · Group I base oil · SN500 base oil

Need the ship as well? Our chartering desk prices product and chemical tanker freight on LaycanDesk.

The market in figures

India base oil imports, 2025 (2710.19.71): 3,004,248 t · USD 2,583.7 m · USD 860/t CIF (2024: 2,713,619 t at USD 897/t)
Main origins, 2025: South Korea 1,322,161 t (44.0%) · Singapore 428,397 t (14.3%) · UAE 237,970 t (7.9%) · Saudi Arabia 189,119 t (6.3%)
Declared CIF by origin, 2025: South Korea USD 835/t · Singapore USD 965/t · UAE USD 783/t · Saudi Arabia USD 797/t · USA USD 1,049/t
Grade split, FY 2023-24: Group II 1.52 Mt · Group III 954,000 t (about 26%) · Group I 511,000 t of 3.69 Mt
Prices, CFR India (Argus): Oct 2025: SN150 USD 731/t, SN500 USD 902/t · Feb 2026: N150 USD 793/t, N500 USD 821/t
Compliance: Importer is a 'producer' under the 2023 waste rules: CPCB EPR registration (used oil) · CBIC Instruction 13/2024 · IGST 18%
Domestic capacity: 1.41 Mt/yr now, planned 2.91 Mt/yr by 2028 (IOC, HPCL, CPCL, BPCL), mostly Group II and III

Landed values are the importing country's declared CIF, not CBIL prices.

Questions buyers ask

Where does India's base oil come from?: By India's own customs declarations South Korea supplied 44.0% of 2025 tonnage at USD 835/t CIF, then Singapore (14.3%), the United Arab Emirates (7.9%) and Saudi Arabia (6.3%); the United States, Taiwan, Spain, Qatar, Türkiye and Malaysia shipped smaller volumes. A customs origin is the consigning country, not the refinery, so every lot CBIL brokers carries the producing refinery's COA and a certificate of origin naming that refinery.
What registration does an Indian base oil importer need?: Since 1 April 2024 a base oil importer is a 'producer' under the Hazardous and Other Wastes Second Amendment Rules, 2023, and must register with the Central Pollution Control Board under the extended producer responsibility rules for used oil. CBIC Instruction 13/2024 of 17 May 2024 tells customs to clear base oil under 2710 19 71 against that registration or an EPR undertaking, so the importer of record's registration is the first thing to settle.
Group II or Group III into India?: Both, and both are growing. Of 3.69 million tonnes imported in fiscal 2023-24, 1.52 million were Group II and 954,000 t Group III, about a quarter of the total, for engine oils that need higher viscosity index. Indian refiners plan most of their new capacity in Group II and III by 2028, so the grade, the viscosity and the approvals the blender needs decide which refinery an enquiry goes to.
How big is the market and what does it cost?: India imported 3.0 million tonnes in 2025 worth USD 2.58 billion, an average of USD 860/t CIF. Argus assessed Group I SN150 at USD 731/t and SN500 at USD 902/t CFR India in October 2025, and Group II N150 at USD 793/t and N500 at USD 821/t in February 2026. These are market references, not offers: a price is worked only against a screened buyer's grade, quantity, port and payment terms.