Italy’s lubricating oil demand fell in May for the eighth time in nine months, suggesting Europe’s slowdown in consumption was set to continue through the second quarter of the year.The country’s lube demand of 34,900t in May fell by 1pc from year-earlier levels, government data showed.The volume rose from 29,100t the previous month, mirroring a typical pick-up in demand following a lull in consumption in the month of April.Lube demand fell even as Italy’s industrial oils consumption rose in May for the first time in twenty months. The improvement partly reflected a low base level from the previous year.Demand for automobile lubricants by contrast fell in May for the second time in three months. Demand for auto lubes had mostly continued to rise until the beginning of this year..Italy’s April base oils output rises.Contact us for more information about the data for these stories
