Lubricant additive sales volumes in the United States were up slightly in July, compared to June, and much higher than in the same month of 2020, according to statistics released last week by the American Chemistry Council.
Sales volumes for lube additives rose 1.7% in July, compared to June, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Washington, D.C.-based trade group reported in an Aug. 20 news release. That followed a 1.1% decline from May to June.
July’s lube additive volumes were 10.5% higher than in the same month in 2020, when the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had just begun to ease. Corrosion inhibitors showed a similar pattern – volumes for such products were up 0.8% in July, compared to June on a seasonally adjusted basis, but the July volumes were up 10.5% from the same month in 2020.
Year-to-date through July, lubricant additives volumes were up 9.2%, and corrosion inhibitor volumes were down 0.9%.
Total specialty chemical volumes rose 1.1% in July, showing a faster growth pace than the 0.3% gain in June. Compared to July 2020, July’s total volumes were up 10.1%.
The group noted that overall specialty chemicals volumes year-to-date through July are up 3.9%. For the second straight month, ACC said that if the economic recovery continues, 2021 should be a good year for specialty chemicals.