Carbon markets: European carbon posted a 0.2% weekly gain on Friday and stayed firmly rangebound in a thinly populated market, even as reports suggested Germany may bring coal-fired plants out of reserve ahead of winter (Carbon Pulse, August 28). Market structure mattered more than price. ICE Futures Europe said it will cease trading of 11 nature-based carbon credit futures contracts currently listed on the exchange (Carbon Pulse, August 28), and CORSIA futures softened below $12/t (Carbon Pulse VCM Report, August 31). On demand, Petrobras said it will keep buying REDD+ credits, pushing back on concerns that its shift toward restoration signals weaker REDD+ appetite; separately, a new study found that negative press about one project spills over to others under the same registry standard (Carbon Pulse, August 28). The European Parliament's lead ETS negotiator aims to finalise his position by end-September.
Waste oil and base oil: Excel Paralubes told customers that effective September 1 it will raise Group II posted prices 30 cents per gallon across the board, following Calumet and Chevron the prior week (Lubes'N'Greases Weekly Americas Base Oil Price Report, August 26). Group III is the pressure point: Asian FOB indications rose $50/metric ton for a second consecutive week after $100/ton the week before, with Persian Gulf production — roughly 20–25% of global Group III capacity — effectively cut off, and Repsol's ILBOC Yubase 4 availability impaired until a November restart. Crude eased even as postings rose: WTI October settled at $82.36/bbl on August 25 (from $84.94), and US Gulf low-sulfur diesel was $4.30/gal on August 24 (from $4.40). Paulsboro takes a five-week Group I outage in September; Petro-Canada a 30-day Group II turnaround.
Takeaway: postings are climbing while crude falls — this is a margin and allocation market, not a feedstock one. Collectors and re-refiners: sell into the September posting step-up rather than waiting for crude to lead. Buyers: Indian and Chinese Group III barrels without full approvals are now clearing on desperation, so widen and qualify your supplier list before Q4 rather than during it.
Our indicative CXF US Gulf assessment stands at $21.50/t and CXF re-refining credits at $19.90/t — desk marks, updated August 31, 2026. US Gulf is 30 cents above the $21.20 carried in last week's note. Our price-history database was unreachable this run, so no independent week-over-week series is quoted.
Indicative desk marks — not financial advice. Current levels: CXF Price Index.