Total U.S. lubricant sales volumes in the fourth quarter fell 4.5 percent compared to the same period of 2005, according to the latest sales data from the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association. For the year 2006, lubricant sales volumes shrank 2.3 percent compared to2005.
The organization March 7 released its Quarterly Lubricant Sales Survey showing that volumes for the fourth quarter fell across most major sectors of the market. Grease sales – the lone exception – rose 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter compared to 2005s fourth quarter. Grease sales for the full year went up 3.2 percent over 2005.
The report uses 2002 as the base year. An index value of 100 represents the average quarterly volume for 2002, calculated by dividing the total volume for 2002 by four.
The industrial process oil index saw the steepest decline, slipping 11.1 percent to 74.8 in the fourth quarter, compared to 86 in 2005s fourth quarter. For the full year, the process oil index matched its 2005 level.
Sales volumes for the automotive segment edged down 2.9 percent in the fourth quarter, compared to 2005s fourth quarter. For the full year, the automotive segment was down 3.1 percent from 2005.
Industrial lubes dropped 4.5 percent for the quarter, compared to the fourth quarter in 2005. For the year 2006, industrial lubes edged down 1.8 percent, compared to 2005.
The survey noted that the U.S. Energy Information Agency reported output of paraffinic and naphthenic base oils totaling 17.2 million barrels during the fourth quarter, up 15 percent from the same period in 2005.Full-year 2006 base oil production reached 66.8 million barrels, up 12.4 percent from 2005.
Wax production totaled 1.1 million barrels, down 13.6 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2005. Total wax production in 2006 slipped by 3.6 percent to 5.4 million barrels from 2005.