Total base oil production in the United States declined 6% in 2022, with paraffinic production falling 7%, while naphthenic production decreased 2%, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
December’s output dropped 10%.
For the full year, U.S. base oil production declined to 57.5 million barrels, down from 61.2 million barrels.
In December, base oil production in the U.S. decreased 11% to 4.7 million barrels, compared to 5.3 million barrels. December’s volume was the highest since 5.1 million barrels in July. The high mark for the year was 5.5 million barrels in May, and the low point was 4 million in August.
In 2022, U.S. paraffinic base oil production fell to 48.3 million barrels, down from 51.8 million barrels.
Paraffinic base oil production in the U.S. fell 16% to 3.9 million barrels in December, down from 4.6 million barrels. That was the highest total for a month since 4 million barrels in September. The highest monthly paraffinic production in 2022 was 4.6 million barrels in May, and the lowest was 3.4 million barrels in August.
During 2022, U.S. naphthenic base oil production totaled 9.2 million tons, a 2% decrease.
In December, naphthenic base oil production in the U.S. jumped 22% to 813,000 tons, compared to 665,000 tons. That was the fourth highest naphthenic production total for a month last year. The peak of 893,000 tons occurred in May, and the low mark of 670,000 tons was recorded in September.