Italy’s May base oils output falls

Italy’s base oils output fell to a three-month low in May following the start of an extended plant shutdown for maintenance work.

Base oils output of 60,470t in May fell from more than 81,000t the previous month, government data showed.

The volume was down from average levels of more than 74,000 t/month in the first four months of the year.

Output during that four-month period was also up from around 42,000 t/month during the same period last year, when a Group I base oils unit was offline.

The same base oils unit was taken offline again in May for scheduled maintenance work. The timing of the restart of the unit is unclear.

Rising base oils output in March and April outpaced Italy’s domestic base oils demand during those months.

Lower base oils output in May lagged domestic consumption that rose to a three-month high of more than 73,000t.