In January 2014, Kline, a worldwide consulting and research firm serving needs of organizations in the lubricants and base stocks industry, introduced its monthly Base Stock Margin Index, a characterization of recent cash margin contributions in the U.S. base oil market over the past 24 months.
The Index estimates cash margin contributions associated with U.S. Group II base stock production. It simulates EBITDA before the deduction of corporate SG&A expenses for typical VGO-based virgin base stock plants and RFO-based re-refineries.
“Margins for conventional refiners and re-refiners fell from March to April, as both types of refiners experienced slight increases to feedstock prices over the past month,” noted Ian Moncrieff, Vice President of Kline’s Energy Practice. “Furthermore, with Brent crude hovering the $55-60 per barrel range over the past three months, lagged margins are approximately equal to their un-lagged counterparts from two-months ago. It appears as though base oil producers have been able to limit further discounts to postings, a potential indication of low overall inventories as the industry heads into the summer driving months. As the market evolves out of this period of tightness, it will be interesting to see if base oil producers can sustain current margins.”
For more information on the Kline Index, or to inquire about our pricing and margin analysis services to the base stocks industry, please contact Ian Moncrieff, Vice President (Ian.Moncrieff@klinegroup.com) at (973)-615-3680 in Kline’s Energy Practice.
