France’s lube demand resumed its slide in March, compounding a sharp slowdown in consumption in regional markets where demand had been firmer.France’s lube consumption of 39,500 tonnes in March fell from more than 41,000 tonnes the previous month and by 9% from year-earlier levels, according to Centre Professionel des Lubrifiants (CPL).Automobile lube consumption fell by 8% from year-earlier levels and industrial oil consumption by 11%.France’s lube demand had fallen more slowly in January before rising in February for the first time in twenty-one months.The improvement raised the prospect of firmer demand balancing out a recent slowdown in lube consumption in markets like Italy and Spain.France’s lube consumption instead resumed a slide that began in the second half of 2021.A sustained slowdown in Europe’s total lube demand followed a similar trend, before consumption steadied from the fourth quarter of last year.Demand got support from a recovery in consumption in markets like Italy and Spain.Regional demand instead likely resumed its fall in March as consumption contracted in France as well as both of those other key markets.Like Italy, France’s lube consumption unusually fell in March from February for the first time since 2020.The counter-seasonal trend complicated blenders’ inventory management and base oil suppliers’ distribution plans.It also extended the incentive for base oils suppliers and blenders to maintain low inventories to limit their exposure to uncertain consumption patterns..Italy’s March lube demand falls.Spain’s March lube demand falls
France’s lube demand resumed its slide in March, compounding a sharp slowdown in consumption in regional markets where demand had been firmer.France’s lube consumption of 39,500 tonnes in March fell from more than 41,000 tonnes the previous month and by 9% from year-earlier levels, according to Centre Professionel des Lubrifiants (CPL).Automobile lube consumption fell by 8% from year-earlier levels and industrial oil consumption by 11%.France’s lube demand had fallen more slowly in January before rising in February for the first time in twenty-one months.The improvement raised the prospect of firmer demand balancing out a recent slowdown in lube consumption in markets like Italy and Spain.France’s lube consumption instead resumed a slide that began in the second half of 2021.A sustained slowdown in Europe’s total lube demand followed a similar trend, before consumption steadied from the fourth quarter of last year.Demand got support from a recovery in consumption in markets like Italy and Spain.Regional demand instead likely resumed its fall in March as consumption contracted in France as well as both of those other key markets.Like Italy, France’s lube consumption unusually fell in March from February for the first time since 2020.The counter-seasonal trend complicated blenders’ inventory management and base oil suppliers’ distribution plans.It also extended the incentive for base oils suppliers and blenders to maintain low inventories to limit their exposure to uncertain consumption patterns..Italy’s March lube demand falls.Spain’s March lube demand falls
