Base oil production in the United States jumped 22% in February, compared to the same month last year, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Energy information administration.
The country’s refiners made 4.9 million barrels of base oil in February, compared to 4 million barrels in the second month of 2023. It was a productive month for the material as output exceeded all but two months in 2023 – December’s 5 million barrels and 5.1 million barrels in May.
February’s production level was also the highest for that month since 5.2 million barrels in 2018.
Paraffinic base oil production reached 4.1 million barrels in February, rising 21% from 3.4 million barrels 12 months earlier.
Naphthenic base oil production was also up, jumping 28% from 580,000 barrels to 742,000 barrels.