Japan consumed 111,525 kiloliters of finished lubricants in January, a 13% decrease from 128,237 kL in January 2020, according to data released this week by a government agency. Sequentially, the January consumption volume was down 19% from December’s 138,262 kL, which was the country’s highest monthly total in 2020.

Japanese metalworking fluids and industrial oil producer Yushiro Chemical Industry Co. reported steep drops in operating profit and sales for the quarter ending Dec. 31, though it noted its manufacturing customers showed signs of recovery during the quarter.

DuPont said last week that it is investing $40 million to construct specialty lubricant manufacturing units at existing factories in Japan and in the United States.