CUSTOMS BROKERS · EST. 1949Discuss a shipment Commercial grades need precise documentation.
Base oils are feedstocks used in lubricant and related formulations. Trade names and grade descriptions are useful commercially, but they do not replace a clear product description and technical documentation for customs review. Group descriptions or labels such as SN 150 and SN 500 should be supported by the supplier’s actual specifications.
Build the document pack around the product.
Review the transaction, cargo description and transport information together before arrival.
- Commercial invoice and bill of lading
- Supplier product specification and available analysis
- Declared quantities and units of measurement
- Origin and supporting certificates where applicable
- Vessel details and receiving storage plan
Classification is a review, not a guess.
A tariff decision should be based on the actual product and current rules. A generic “base oil” label or a previous shipment’s code is not sufficient on its own. Motumal coordinates review of the product information and the supporting documentation; no tariff code or duty rate is prescribed on this page.
The vessel and the tanks need a shared plan.
For bulk arrivals, align discharge readiness with the receiving facility and keep quantity records available for reconciliation. Discuss storage needs and release instructions before arrival. The specific arrangement depends on the cargo and facility acceptance.
PRODUCT INTELLIGENCE / BEFORE ARRIVAL
Types of base oils: groups, grades and the evidence behind them
Identify three things separately: the base stock family, the supplier’s commercial grade and the actual shipment specification. A Group II label, a 500N grade and a batch viscosity result answer different questions. Use the distinctions below to prepare a product-specific enquiry. Motumal confirms the scope for the actual grade and shipment.
API Group I, II, III, IV and V compared
| Group | Saturates / sulfur by mass | Viscosity index or identity |
|---|---|---|
| Group I | Saturates <90% and/or sulfur >0.03% | VI ≥80 and <120 |
| Group II | Saturates ≥90% and sulfur ≤0.03% | VI ≥80 and <120 |
| Group III | Saturates ≥90% and sulfur ≤0.03% | VI ≥120 |
| Group IV | Defined by chemical family | Polyalphaolefins (PAO) |
| Group V | The remaining base stocks | Not included in Groups I–IV |
Use the analytical methods and definitions in API 1509, Annex E. API grouping does not assign an Indian HS code or certify a finished engine oil. “II+” and “III+” are commercial descriptions within the five-group framework; request the supplier’s stated specification. API 1509 and current amendments ↗
TYPE 01
Group I solvent-neutral grades
SN 150 · SN 500 · SN 650 · supplier-specific neutral grades
Solvent-neutral, or SN, is familiar commercial terminology. The number is not a complete specification and should not be read automatically as a viscosity in cSt at 40°C or 100°C. Keep the manufacturer and grade attached to each parcel rather than treating every supplier’s SN 500 as identical.
What to confirm
- Supplier grade sheet plus batch certificate of analysis (COA).
- Kinematic viscosity with temperature, units and method; viscosity index, sulfur and saturates evidence where needed to support a group claim.
Discrepancy to resolveInvoice says SN 500 but the COA belongs to SN 150. Obtain the matching current records before using either grade in the customs file.
Back to product types ↑TYPE 02
Group II neutral base oils
150N · 500N · 600N · supplier-specific N grades
A neutral-grade name alone does not establish Group II. Match the commercial grade to the supplier’s group declaration and technical record. Viscosity grade and API group remain separate fields: the same group can contain several viscosities.
What to confirm
- Manufacturer, product code, declared API group and revision of the technical data sheet (TDS).
- Actual batch viscosity and the supporting sulfur, saturates and VI information relevant to the group declaration.
Discrepancy to resolveThe invoice calls a product Group II while an older attachment describes another product. Ask which specification applies to this shipment.
Back to product types ↑TYPE 03
Group III and commercially described III+ base oils
4 cSt · 6 cSt · other supplier-declared viscosity grades
Group III describes a defined combination of properties. Numbers such as 4 and 6 in supplier grade names may refer to nominal viscosity at 100°C; verify the actual convention and range in that product’s TDS. A “synthetic” description or III+ label is not a replacement for the underlying product facts.
What to confirm
- Declared group, manufacturer, nominal grade and the specified viscosity temperature.
- Batch COA linked to the parcel; distinguish a specification range from the measured batch result.
Discrepancy to resolveA 40°C viscosity is compared with a 100°C specification. Put both results on their stated temperature basis before deciding there is a mismatch.
Back to product types ↑TYPE 04
Bright stock and heavy base stocks
Bright stock · BS 150 / 150 bright stock · supplier-specific heavy grades
Bright stock is a high-viscosity base stock, distinct from a light neutral grade. ExxonMobil describes its bright stock as Group I material derived from deasphalted vacuum residue. Do not interpret “150 bright stock” as equivalent to SN 150 merely because both names contain 150.
What to confirm
- Exact supplier designation, current specification and batch viscosity with units and temperature.
- Product condition and transfer particulars supplied to the receiving operator; facility acceptance for the actual parcel.
Discrepancy to resolveA transport document abbreviates the cargo to “base oil 150”. Clarify whether the parcel is bright stock or a neutral grade and align the documents.
Back to product types ↑TYPE 05
Group IV polyalphaolefins
PAO base stocks · manufacturer-specific PAO viscosity grades
PAO means polyalphaolefin, the chemical family assigned to API Group IV. A finished lubricant containing PAO is a different description from the PAO base stock itself. Establish whether the consignment is the base component, a blend of base stocks or an additive-containing preparation.
What to confirm
- Chemical identity, manufacturer product code and safety data sheet (SDS).
- Composition or formulation evidence, specification, batch COA and intended use.
Discrepancy to resolveThe invoice says synthetic base oil while the technical record describes a formulated lubricant. Resolve the actual composition and product form before classification review.
Back to product types ↑TYPE 06
Group V esters, PAGs and other base stocks
Ester base stocks · polyalkylene glycols (PAGs) · other non-I–IV stocks
Group V is a residual category, not one uniform chemistry. Ester and PAG base stocks need their own chemical descriptions. BASF’s PAG range includes water-soluble and water-insoluble products, illustrating why the family name alone cannot establish the characteristics of a particular grade.
What to confirm
- Precise chemical family, supplier product code, composition and intended formulation role.
- SDS, TDS and batch COA for that product; disclose additives or blends rather than describing everything as neat base oil.
Discrepancy to resolveA purchasing description says “synthetic oil”, but the SDS identifies an ester blend. Request a description and composition record that explain the material actually supplied.
Back to product types ↑TYPE 07
Naphthenic and paraffinic descriptions
Naphthenic base stocks · paraffinic base stocks · process-oil enquiries
These terms describe another aspect of the oil; they are not substitutes for grade, measured properties or a customs description. Ask whether the supplied material is a base stock or a finished process or insulating oil, and retain its actual composition and use in the review.
What to confirm
- Supplier’s description of the base stock or prepared product and its intended use.
- Viscosity, VI, relevant compositional evidence and the specification tied to the shipment.
Discrepancy to resolveA generic “mineral oil” invoice obscures a more specific supplier description. Resolve the precise identity rather than adopting a code from an unrelated mineral-oil file.
Back to product types ↑TYPE 08
White oils, liquid paraffins and adjacent specialties
White mineral oil · liquid paraffin · specialty petroleum oils
Keep these enquiries distinct from ordinary lubricant base-stock grades. A stated technical, pharmaceutical or food-related use needs evidence specific to the product and the claimed grade. Neither a clear appearance nor the word “white” establishes a purity standard or permission for a particular use.
What to confirm
- Exact grade, intended use, specification and any claimed standard with supporting supplier evidence.
- Composition, batch COA and current SDS; match the invoice description to the actual specialty oil.
Discrepancy to resolveAn invoice claims a special purity grade but the attachment is only a generic mineral-oil sheet. Obtain the grade-specific support before repeating the claim.
Back to product types ↑A useful base-oil import brief
- Identify every grade separately: manufacturer, product code, declared group, quantity and shipment or batch reference.
- Supply the invoice, available bill of lading, current TDS, SDS and batch COA. Identify which version is current.
- State viscosity temperature and units, density reference conditions and the commercial quantity basis. A density figure without its basis cannot explain a mass/volume comparison.
- Confirm origin evidence, the proposed customs procedure and intended use; keep the classification rationale tied to the actual product.
- For a tanker: identify vessel/ETA, parcels, receiving facility and the owner of any unresolved tank or quantity question. For containers: identify packages or tank-container details and delivery arrangements.
Connect the product to the port
Discuss sea-cargo movements at Mumbai Port, JNPT / Nhava Sheva and Hazira. At Dighi, our scope is liquid cargo only. Cargo mode, product suitability, terminal acceptance and receiving arrangements need confirmation for the actual consignment.
Discuss the product and shipment ↗Technical references and next steps
Technical sources checked 29 October 2026. Manufacturer references explain product terminology and distinctions. Review current Indian requirements against the actual consignment.
Before a base-oil movement reaches Pir Pau
At Mumbai Port, a base-oil import needs an identified marine and receiving route as well as a reviewed customs file. Mumbai Port Authority describes Old Pir Pau in relation to lube and base-oil barges; this does not confirm suitability for any proposed parcel. Use our Pir Pau base-oil guide to compare the grade, quantity records, berth or craft plan and receiving dependencies before arrival.
Questions before shipment
What is the difference between API Group I, II and III base oils?
API distinguishes these groups using saturates, sulfur and viscosity index. The comparison table on this page gives the boundaries; use API 1509 and supplier evidence for the actual product. An API group is not an Indian customs tariff heading.
Is bright stock the same as SN 150?
No. Bright stock is a heavy, high-viscosity base stock. A shared number in commercial grade names does not establish equivalent properties. Review the manufacturer’s exact specification and the viscosity units and temperature.
Which documents should I send for a PAO or ester base-stock enquiry?
Send the exact supplier product code, chemical or formulation identity, current SDS, TDS, available batch COA, intended use, invoice and transport particulars. Establish whether it is a base stock, blend or formulated lubricant.
Can base oil arrive in a chartered tanker?
Bulk oils can be shipped in tanker parcels. Motumal has company-published experience with chartered tanker imports; suitability is confirmed for the actual cargo and port arrangement.
Are SN 150 and SN 500 enough to determine classification?
No. These commercial grade names should be read with the supplier’s specifications and current classification requirements.
Can Motumal coordinate storage?
Yes, storage coordination is part of Motumal’s published service scope. Facility availability, compatibility and customs status need confirmation for each shipment.