Japan’s base oils and lubricants demand rose in August for the third time in four months amid firmer automobile lube consumption.Total demand of 129,040 kilolitres (114,300t) in August rose by 4pc from year-earlier levels, government data showed.Total consumption of 1.13mn kl in the first eight months of the year rose by 1pc from 1.12mn kl during the same period last year.The rise in consumption contrasted with a 5pc fall in Japan’s base oils production so far this year.Demand got support from a rise in automobile lube consumption in July for a third straight month.The firmer consumption included a 3pc rise in demand for heavy-duty engine oils (HDEO) in July. The last time HDEO consumption rose was in March 2022.Consumption of other lubricants extended their fall in July for an eleventh month.The slowdown coincided with shrinking industrial production in Japan throughout most of the past year..Japan’s August base oils output falls
