Recycle base oil

Importance of our Quality Control on Recycle Base Oil SN500,  SN150, SN350 and export them.

First of all, you are receiving this guideline from us because we believe you are one of our key customers. And we wish to do business with you on a long-term basis with no quality issues and no misunderstanding on what our market prefers.

We have a lot of experience in the export of high-quality recycled base oil SN 500 SN 350 SN150 shipments previously, so we wish to avoid any issues with your quality with customers. This is the reason why you are receiving this guide from us.

You should know this guideline how we control quality and shipment

Our company ATDM CO LTD has been in the base oil trading business since 2006 and we export about 100 to 150 containers of base oil in flexi bags, and reconditioned drums to the global

market monthly. 80% of our products are recycled base oil and 20% are virgin products. And 70% of our shipments are in reconditioned drums. We are among the top 5 exporters of base oil in the Middle east.

MARKET PROFILE

Normally poor countries cannot afford to buy virgin base oil in high quantity and price buying recycled grade. They prefer to buy it but within controlled specifications. Buyers prefer to buy reconditioned drums as it is easier to transport to other parts of countries and not ready to invest in tank storage facilities. And reconditioned drum packaging is easy to do retail trading.

SIGNING CONTRACT, COA SPEC SHEET, PRODUCT SAMPLE PHOTO / VIDEO

Everything must be in agreement from the beginning. If any point is not agreed upon, it should be discussed before the PI/contract is signed mutually. After the PI/contract is signed, it should be final. It is hard to argue if some points were not discussed in advance but changed later on.

So, for every purchase/contract, we require a signed proforma invoice, signed a contract with you (customer), a specification sheet with full details of COA (certificate of analysis), a sample photo of the oil (showing color and clarity) and video of oil pouring from one cup to another cup to verify the good quality and sample pictures of reconditioned drums that will be used for this shipment. List is as follow:

a) signed PI/contract

b) a signed specification sheet or COA

c) photo of oil/video of oil pouring from one cup to another cup

d) photo of reconditioned drums that will be supplied for this contract

Oil Quality

Oil quality depends on three critical factors: color, appearance (clarity), and viscosity. Each factor plays a significant role in market demand and buyer satisfaction.

Color

Lighter-colored oils dominate the market, as buyers avoid darker shades. Customers typically prefer:

1.SN 150: Maximum color rating of 1.5

2.SN 300: Maximum color rating of 2.0

3.SN 500: Maximum color rating of 2.5

Recycled base oils processed with acid treatment may experience slight color changes during transit. However, the color must not deviate more than +0.5 from the agreed specification. A darker shade or significant variation reduces the oil’s market value and may result in claims.

Appearance and Clarity

Clear, contamination-free oil reflects quality. Buyers reject murky or cloudy oils, often caused by:

Poor-quality reconditioned drums.

Inadequate cleaning of storage containers.

Using drums previously holding additives or chemicals.

These issues damage clarity and can lead to cargo rejection and full claims on its value. Proper handling ensures transparency and buyer satisfaction.

Viscosity

Viscosity specifications must align with buyer expectations. In hotter regions, buyers prefer thicker oils like SN 500, but each order must match the agreed grade. Deliver SN 150 when ordered, and avoid mixing or substituting grades.

Neglecting viscosity standards damages credibility and invites penalties. Adhere to API standards for 40°C and 100°C viscosity to meet buyer requirements and maintain trust.

Focus on maintaining proper color, clarity, and viscosity to deliver high-quality oil that meets buyer expectations. This attention to detail ensures stronger market positioning and smoother transactions.

API standard specifications

Buyers are already familiar with API guidelines on base oil specifications so following table is mentioned based on API guideline. And we will purchase based on these same specs.

** These specifications are very important to match and stay within this range.

Load port survey report

To avoid having quality disputes upon arrival, it is important to draw samples from actual cargo at the load port or supplier’s warehouse and show the load port survey report to us for acceptance and approval before shipment takes place. Only with our approval and acceptance, you should make the shipment.

Sometimes, unreliable shippers will show good samples in video, or photo and later on make bad quality shipments to cheat. So, to prevent this from happening, you should engage a load port surveyor from a reliable lab & analysis company. This surveyor cost is small compared to potential claims and loss due to bad quality, so you should invest in this cost for every shipment.

Load port survey result must be checked against the agreed spec based on contract or business confirmation. We will provide this “Load Port Survey Report” for every shipment.

Photo / Video proof of actual shipment

It is necessary to show video and photo updates of products when products are ready for shipment, container stuffing before doors are closed and more importantly, oil being pulled out from the drums or flexible from actual cargo from an actual container.

Examples as follows:

Drums lying in the supplier warehouse

Oil pulled out from actual cargo from the actual contract

Oil bottle on top of the drums

Do take note, it must be an actual photo, or video of the oil produced for this contract and not other forwarded samples or forwarded photos from other contracts/shipments.

Packaging Recycle base oil

The quality of reconditioned drums is as critical as the quality of the oil itself. Even though the drum’s cost accounts for just 10% of the total CFR cost, poor-quality drums can compromise the entire 90% of the product. Here’s how to maintain high standards for drum selection and usage:

Prioritize Clean, Reconditioned Drums
Dirty or unwashed drums with leftover chemicals can ruin the oil. Think of it as milk stored in a dirty bottle—contamination is inevitable. Always source reconditioned drums from reliable suppliers and ensure proper cleaning to avoid contamination.

Source Drums Directly from Factories
Purchasing drums directly from a drum supplier gives you better control over quality. Oil factories may use old or low-quality drums without proper checks. This practice risks contamination, especially if the drums previously contained adhesives or chemicals.

Avoid Chemical or Adhesive Drums
Never use drums that held adhesives or chemicals. Residues like glue or milky substances can dissolve in the oil, spoiling an entire batch. Similarly, ensure no water remains in the drum, as it can turn the oil cloudy or milky.

Choose Uniform and Durable Drums
Avoid black-colored drums since customers dislike them. Instead, opt for uniform colors like blue, red, or green to maintain consistency. Also, ensure drums are free from dents, cracks, or holes to prevent oil leaks during transit.

Ensure Proper Labelling and Cap Seals
Apply both product and PPRD label markings as per customer requirements. Secure cap seals to protect the oil and maintain quality.

Uses for Recycled Oil
Recycled oil serves various industries, including industrial burners, mould oils, hydraulic oils, bitumen products, and as additives in manufacturing.

By focusing on drum quality, you can protect your oil and maximize its market value.

 Importance to connect with us

Recycled base oil can have a lot of errors in color, clarity, viscosity and drum quality. So, it is very important to keep 3-4 good and reliable oil direct factories at your side. It is not advisable to buy recycled base oil from a trader as the trader may not know who is the actual factory that produces the oil. And trader’s approach to quality is not as strict and strong as the end-user.

So, if you buy from an unknown new supplier, the problem can happen if you do not control this factory or this factory cheats on you by shipping bad quality shipments.

Specification of Recycle Base Oil

MSDS of Recycle Base Oil