Japan’s lubricating oil demand fell in January for a second month, mirroring weaker automobile sales and slower industrial production growth.Lube demand of 169,910 kilolitres (150,510t) in January fell from 191,670kl the previous month to a five-month low, government data showed. Sales also fell by 1pc on a year-on-year basis. .Japan’s lube sales typically fall in the month of January compared with the previous month. But the slowdown in sales on a year-on-year basis followed a rebound in demand during the 10 months to November.The drop in demand coincided with a sustained fall in Japan’s automobile sales and production since the second half of last year.The country’s industrial production growth also stalled at the beginning of this year. But that slowdown is expected to be temporary..Japan's Jan industrial output falls 1.3% on month.Even with the slowdown, the drop in lube demand in January focused less on key lubricants such as motor-vehicle engine oils, metal working oils and transformer oils. Sales of all of those lubricants rose in January from year-earlier levels.The slowdown affected more the sales of other automotive lubricants and marine engine oils..Japan’s January base oils/lube output stays low.Base Oil News stories and analysis also available on ICIS platform
