Italy’s December base oils output slides

Italy’s base oils production fell in December to its lowest in more than two years amid unexpectedly protracted plant maintenance work in the country.

Output fell to 45,290t in December, government data showed. Output dipped from an already-low 53,250t in November to its lowest since May 2019.

Output was unusually low in first-half 2019 because of extended plant maintenance work at that time.

Extended plant maintenance work was also a key factor behind the slide in output in December.

A Group I base oil unit in the country had been expected to resume operations in December following a scheduled shutdown that began in November. Unexpected issues during the maintenance forced its extended shutdown.

The drop in production cut Italy’s fourth-quarter base oils output to 178,080t.

The volume was down from more than 250,000t during the previous three months and the lowest since second-quarter 2019.