Finished lubricant production in Japan continues to decline year-on-year and has trailed behind last year’s volumes every month so far in 2024.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, in May this year the country’s finished lubricant producers output 136,278 kiloliters (134,097 metric tons), down 9% year-on-year. The decline from April to May this year was a gentler 1.6%.
This decline is less than April 2024, which slumped 11% year-on-year. Production for 2024 has run behind last year’s in every month so far this year.
Domestic sales of lubricants also fell by almost 14% to 138,799 kL from 160,821 kL in May.