Base oil production in the United States fell 20% in June, compared to the same month last year, according to government data released last Thursday.
For the first half of this year, production volume declined 11%.
Refiners in the U.S. produced 4.2 million barrels in June, compared to 5.2 million barrels in June of 2022, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported. June’s volume was the third-lowest this year, ahead of 4 million barrels in February and 3.9 million barrels in March. U.S. base oil production was also down year to year in each of the first six months this year.
For the first six months of the year, production volume declined to 26.7 million barrels, compared to 30.1 million barrels.
Paraffinic base oil production in the U.S. fell 19% to 3.5 million barrels, from 4.3 million barrels.
Naphthenic base oil production in the country plummeted 24% to 672,000 barrels in June, compared to 888,000 barrels. Through the first half of this year, naphthenic base oil production decreased 12% to 4.2 million barrels.