Base oil production in the United States rose by 34% in February, compared to the same month last year and was also up 25% from February 2020, a U.S. government agency reported last week.
U.S. base oil production reached 4.6 million barrels in February, compared to 3.4 million barrels in the same month last year and to 3.7 million barrels in February 2020, according to U.S. Energy Information Agency data. Sequentially, February’s volume was virtually unchanged from 4.6 million barrels in January.
Compared to the last several years, this was the highest U.S. base oil production in February since 5.2 million barrels in 2018.
The 3.9 million barrels of U.S. paraffinic base oil production produced in February was also well up year-over-year, 38% higher than 2.8 million barrels and 33% more than the 2.9 million barrels produced in the same month in 2020. The February paraffinic volume was sequentially unchanged from 3.9 million barrels in January.
The February paraffinic production was the most for the month since 4.4 million barrels in 2018.
Naphthenic base oil production was up 19% at 724,000 barrels in February, compared to 608,000 the same month last year, but was down 5% from 759,000 barrels in February 2020. Sequentially, the February production was up 1% from January.
The February naphthenic production was the most for the month since the 759,000 barrels mark in 2020.