Lubricant consumption in France decreased to 41,273 tons in February, 2% less than the same month last year, Paris-based Professional Lubricants Center reported April 17. Automotive lubricants consumption was flat, while industrial lubricant demand tailed off 9% and process oils demand rose 15%.
Consumption of automotive lubricants was flat at 23,663 tons in February. Passenger car engine oil demand increased 3% to 13,691 tons, while sales of engine oils for commercial diesel vehicles was virtually unchanged at 1,052 tons. Automotive transmission fluid demand decreased 6%, and consumption of automotive greases dropped 12%.
Demand for industrial lubricants – excluding process oils – fell to 12,550 tons in February.
Hydraulic oil consumption declined 7% to 5,106 tons. Demand dropped for two of its sub-categories and increased for its smallest-demand sub-category. Sales of standard-viscosity-index oils slipped 12% to 1,317 tons, and demand for high-viscosity-index oils declined 10% to 3,363 tons. Non-flammable hydraulic oils consumption jumped 54% to 426 tons.
Consumption of industrial greases decreased 3% to 1,289 tons.
Of the two metalworking fluid variant categories, demand increased for one and fell for the other. Sales of non-soluble types fell 15% to 1,011 tons, while demand for soluble types increased 2% to 946 tons.
Compressor oil sales declined 19% to 141 tons, although refrigeration compressor oils demand increased 7% to 46 tons. Consumption of other types of compressor oils dropped 28% to 95 tons.
Process oil consumption climbed 15% to 5,060 tons.