Germany’s lubricating oil demand fell in December for a fourth month amid sliding consumption of engine oils and industrial oils.Consumption of 50,460t in December fell from 66,350t the previous month to the lowest since May 2020, government data showed. At that time, Europe was in the midst of a widespread lockdown at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.Demand in December was also down 10pc from year-earlier levels..The fall in demand cut the rise in total lube consumption in 2021 to 871,900t. The volume was still up 7.1pc from the previous year. But it was the second-lowest volume in more than six years.Lube demand fell in December on the back of a 25pc drop in consumption of engine oils and a 63pc slide in demand for metal-working fluids. Consumption of those lubricants fell in December to their lowest since at least 2015.The fall in lube consumption coincided with a sustained slide in the country’s car sales during the second half of last year. Germany’s industrial production also turned negative during the last four months of last year.
