Lubricant consumption in France decreased 3% to 46,452 metric tons in June, compared to the same month last year, according to data released Aug. 4 by the Paris-based Professional Lubricants Center. For the first half of this year, consumption was off by 2% at 271,959 tons.
Consumption of automotive lubricants declined 2% to 25,613 tons in June and for the first half of the year was flat at 150,677 tons.
Passenger car engine oil demand decreased 5% to 14,009 tons in June was flat for the first six months of this year at 82,576 tons. Sales of engine oils used in commercial diesel vehicles were down 1% at 4,96 tons in June and up 5% at 30,120 tons for the first half of this year. Automatic transmission fluid sales grew 22% to 940 tons in June and by 5% to 5,282 tons year-to-date through June. Automotive greases demand dropped 13% to 380 tons in June, and fell 15% to 2,315 tons for the first half of 2022.
Demand for industrial lubricants – excluding process oils – declined 7% to 14,723 tons in June and decreased 3% to 87,948 tons for the first six months of the year.
Hydraulic transmission oil consumption edged up 1% to 6,471 tons in June and also by 1% to 36,311 tons year-to-date through June. Within that small but fast-growing category, non-flammable oils demand jumped 257% to 863 tons in June and by 95% to 2,800 tons for the first half of 2022. Industrial greases consumption rose 5% to 1,388 tons in June and increased 6% to 7,997 tons for this year’s first six months.
Among metalworking fluids, non-soluble types fell 24% to 1,231 tons in June and slipped 12% to 7,657 tons for 2022’s first half. Soluble variants dropped 22% to 1,220 tons in June and fell 24% to 6,817 tons for the first six month. Turbine oil consumption jumped 27% to 302 tons in June but increased only 1% to 1,382 tons for the first half of 2022. Compressor oil demand slipped 11% to 217 tons in June and decreased 5% to 1,301 tons year-to-date through June.
Process oil consumption increased 5% to 6,116 tons in June but fell 10% to 33,334 tons for the first six months of this year.
In the Bank of Frances’ short-term forecast’s update on business conditions in France at the start of July, business leaders surveyed said activity in June was stable in industry, in line with business expectations expressed in May. However, developments varied across sectors in France. Those surveyed said machinery and equipment and chemicals industry output was down from May. Business leaders also indicated a sharp decline in transportation and storage, which were hit by recruitment difficulties and rising fuel prices.