East China Group I base oil spot at ¥4,280/t (+0.47%); import parity ¥4,645/t—a ¥365/t spread, widest in three months. The gap is purely turnaround-driven: domestic utilization fell to 71.3%, and two North China hydroprocessing units are in concentrated September maintenance. Fuel oil’s +0.93% shows distillate-blending costs are rising, pulling base oil’s cost side up too. Call: the spread holds through the maintenance season, so lock forward prices now rather than wait. Domestic supply stays tight, no quick refill; the spread only compresses after the two North China units finish turnarounds. Don’t delay pricing.