Virgin base oil price moves with crude, with refinery run rates and with demand from the blending plants that turn it into finished lubricants. This page carries our current SN500 quotation, the technical data sheets for the grades we ship, and an explanation of what actually drives the number so you can judge whether a quote you have been given is realistic.
Today’s virgin base oil price
USD 1,055 / MT
To get today’s last updated rate of base oil price please contact the sales manager for base oil, Mr. Salem, on WhatsApp at +90 507 246 95 20.
Virgin base oil price by grade
SN500 is the reference grade and the one we publish, because it is the most widely traded and the one buyers use to benchmark a supplier. The other grades move with it but not in lockstep — SN150 is tied more closely to light-end demand, and SN650 trades at a premium when bright stock is tight.
| Grade | Viscosity @100 °C | Typical use | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Oil SN150 | 4.5–5.5 cSt | Light hydraulic oils, transformer and process oils, low-viscosity blends | On request |
| Base Oil SN350 | 7.5–9.0 cSt | Mid-range engine oils, gear oils, general industrial lubricants | On request |
| Base Oil SN500 | 10.5–11.5 cSt | The workhorse grade — engine oils, hydraulic fluids, greases | USD 1,055 / MT FCA |
| Base Oil SN650 | 12.0–14.0 cSt | Heavy gear oils, marine lubricants, high-viscosity blends | On request |
Quoted price is indicative and valid on the date shown. A firm price is issued against a specific quantity, packing and delivery term. Where budget is the constraint rather than specification, our recycled base oil range — SN150, SN350 and SN500 — trades at a discount to virgin material.
What is virgin base oil?
Virgin base oil is base oil refined directly from crude, as opposed to re-refined oil recovered from used lubricants. It is produced through vacuum distillation, solvent extraction, dewaxing and hydrofinishing, and it forms the bulk of any finished lubricant — typically 70 to 99 percent by volume, with additives making up the rest.
What distinguishes one base oil from another is viscosity, viscosity index, oxidation stability and sulphur content. A high viscosity index means the oil’s thickness changes less as temperature swings, which is why a blender pays attention to it. The SN designation — SN150, SN350, SN500 — refers to Saybolt viscosity at 100 °F, an older convention that persists in trade even though the specifications are now written in centistokes.
Base oil groups and where our material sits
The American Petroleum Institute classifies base oils into five groups. Knowing which group a quote refers to matters more than the price itself, because the groups are not substitutes for one another.
| Group | Saturates | Sulphur | Viscosity index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group I | Below 90% | Above 0.03% | 80–120 | Solvent refined. What we supply, and still the volume grade worldwide |
| Group II | 90% or more | 0.03% or less | 80–120 | Hydrotreated. Better oxidation stability, higher price |
| Group III | 90% or more | 0.03% or less | Above 120 | Severely hydrocracked. Used in synthetic-labelled engine oils |
| Group IV | — | — | — | Polyalphaolefins (PAO). Fully synthetic, priced in a different bracket |
| Group V | — | — | — | Everything else — esters, naphthenics, polyalkylene glycols |
If a quote you have received is materially cheaper than ours, check the group before you check the arithmetic. Group I and Group II are not interchangeable in a formulation that was validated on one of them.
What moves the virgin base oil price
Five things account for most of the movement. Any supplier quoting a flat number without reference to them is quoting a number that will not hold for long.
Crude and vacuum gas oil
Vacuum gas oil is the feedstock, and its price tracks crude with a lag of a few weeks. This is the largest single component of the delivered cost and the reason base oil quotations are refreshed rather than fixed.
Refinery run rates and turnarounds
Group I capacity has been closing in Europe and Asia for a decade, and the plants that remain schedule maintenance in clusters. A turnaround season tightens availability regardless of what crude is doing, and that is when spot premiums appear.
Seasonal blending demand
Lubricant blenders build stock ahead of their own peak seasons. Demand from India softens through the monsoon and firms afterwards; Chinese buying is driven by industrial activity rather than weather. These cycles are predictable enough to plan around.
Freight and packing
Drummed cargo carries a packing cost per tonne that bulk does not. Ocean freight from the Gulf and the eastern Mediterranean moves independently of crude and swings with vessel availability. On a long haul this can be a material share of the landed price.
Currency
Base oil is priced in dollars. If your own revenue is in another currency, exchange exposure on a long lead time is real and worth addressing in the contract rather than absorbing at settlement.
Reference price sources
Independent assessments from ICIS and Argus Media, and market coverage from Lubes’n’Greases, are what the trade watches. Our quotation is a firm offer rather than an assessment, but it moves with the same fundamentals.
Applications of virgin base oil
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Automotive lubricants
Engine oils, transmission fluids, gear oils and hydraulic fluids. SN500 and SN350 are the usual bases.
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Industrial lubricants
Hydraulic oils, metalworking fluids, compressor oils, turbine oils and industrial gear oils.
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Greases
Base fluid for lithium, calcium and aluminium greases, blended with thickener and additives.
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Process and white oils
Feedstock for rubber process oil, liquid paraffin and technical white oils.
Specifications
Technical data sheet — Base Oil SN-500
| Specification | Limit | Test result | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viscosity @100 °C, cSt | 10.5–11.5 | 11.0 | ASTM D-445 |
| Viscosity @40 °C, cSt | Report | 100 | ASTM D-445 |
| Viscosity index | Min 87 | 94 | ASTM D-2270 |
| Flash point, °C | Min 235 | 240 | ASTM D-92 |
| Pour point, °C | Max −3 | −5 | ASTM D-6749 |
| Total acid number, mgKOH/g | Max 0.05 | 0.03 | ASTM D-664 |
| Colour | Max 2.0 | 2.0 | ASTM D-1500 |
| Density @15 °C, kg/L | Report | 0.895 | ASTM D-4052 |
Download the Base Oil SN 500 data sheet
Technical data sheet — Base Oil SN-150
| Specification | Min | Max | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viscosity @100 °C, cSt | 4.5 | 5.5 | ASTM D-445 |
| Viscosity @40 °C, cSt | 19 | 24 | ASTM D-445 |
| Viscosity index | 90 | 100 | ASTM D-2270 |
| Flash point, °C | 190 | 210 | ASTM D-92 |
| Pour point, °C | −6 | 0 | ASTM D-97 |
| Total acid number, mgKOH/g | 0 | 0.03 | ASTM D-664 |
| Colour | 1.0 | 1.5 | ASTM D-1500 |
| Density @15 °C, kg/L | 0.868 | 0.874 | ASTM D-1298 |
Download the Base Oil SN 150 data sheet
Test methods are maintained by ASTM International. Values shown are typical; a batch certificate of analysis with the production date and lot number is issued before every shipment.
Feedstock and raw material prices
Base oil pricing starts upstream. The chart below tracks the feedstock inputs that set the floor under any virgin base oil price quotation.
Packing and container loading
| Packing | Unit | Per 20′ container | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New steel drum | 180 kg | 80 drums ≈ 14.4 MT | Standard for most destinations. No special discharge facility needed |
| New steel drum | 200 L | 80 drums ≈ 16.0 MT | Lowest packing cost per tonne in drummed form |
| Flexitank | 20–24 MT | 1 unit | Single use. Requires pump discharge at destination |
| ISO tank | 20–25 MT | 1 unit | Returnable. Best economics on repeat volume |
| Bulk vessel | Parcel | — | Buyer must have shore tank capacity |
Container figures are typical for standard 20′ dry containers and vary with the shipping line’s payload limit. Packing choice affects the delivered virgin base oil price more than most buyers expect — on a long haul, the difference between drums and a flexitank can be worth more than a week’s price movement.
Frequently asked questions about virgin base oil price
What is the price of virgin base oil SN500 today?
As of 1 September 2026, virgin base oil SN500 is USD 1,055 per metric tonne on FCA terms. The figure is refreshed as the market moves. For today’s confirmed rate, contact Mr. Salem on WhatsApp at +90 507 246 95 20.
Why does the virgin base oil price change so often?
Because the feedstock does. Vacuum gas oil tracks crude with a short lag, and refinery availability, seasonal blending demand, freight rates and currency all move on their own cycles. A quotation that is not refreshed regularly is not a quotation you can trade on.
What is the difference between virgin and recycled base oil?
Virgin base oil is refined directly from crude. Recycled or re-refined base oil is recovered from used lubricants and reprocessed. Virgin material has more consistent properties batch to batch and is required by many finished-lubricant specifications. Recycled material costs less and is suitable where the specification allows it. We supply both — see our recycled base oil range.
Which SN grade do I need?
It depends on the target viscosity of the finished product. SN150 for light hydraulic and process oils, SN350 for mid-range engine and gear oils, SN500 for the majority of engine oils and greases, SN650 for heavy gear and marine lubricants. Most blenders buy two grades and blend to the viscosity they need.
What does FCA mean in the quoted price?
Free Carrier. The price covers the goods loaded and handed over to the carrier you nominate at the named place. Ocean freight, insurance and import clearance are yours from that point. We also quote FOB, CFR and CIF — tell us the discharge port and we will price the term you prefer.
What is the minimum order quantity?
One full 20′ container, roughly 14.4 MT in 180 kg drums or 20 to 24 MT in a flexitank. Mixed grades in one shipment are accepted provided each grade fills at least one container.
Do you issue a certificate of analysis?
Yes. A batch certificate of analysis is issued before every shipment, stating the lot number, the production date and each test with its method and measured result. We also accept third-party inspection at loading by SGS, Bureau Veritas or the surveyor named in your contract.
Which base oil group is your material?
Group I, solvent refined. If your formulation was validated on Group II or Group III material, the two are not interchangeable and you should say so at the enquiry stage rather than compare on price alone.
How long does base oil keep in storage?
In sealed drums, kept dry and out of direct sun, virgin base oil holds its specification for several years. The practical limits are water ingress through a loosened bung and oxidation once a drum is opened. Store upright with the bungs up, on pallets and under cover.
What other petroleum products do you supply?
Alongside base oil we ship paraffin wax, petroleum jelly, liquid paraffin, slack wax, rubber process oil, bitumen and gilsonite. Current bitumen levels are on our bitumen price page, wax on the paraffin wax price page.
Get today’s virgin base oil price
Tell us the grade, quantity, packing and discharge port and we will come back with a firm price, a loading schedule and confirmation of what the certificate of analysis will state.
Dubai: No. 2305, Burlington Tower, Business Bay — +971 4 566 4998
Ankara: Karşıyaka District, 749 Street No. 30, Gölbaşı — +90 312 544 5481
Base oil sales — Mr. Salem: +90 507 246 95 20
