Base oil production in Germany rose a scant half percentage point year on year to 148,848 metric tons in April, while imports jumped 10% to 78,341 tons, according to the latest information from a government agency.
Through the first four months of the year, base oil production ran 3% behind the same period of last year at 615,387 tons, said data published last week by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control.
Base oil exports were up 15% for the January-April period at 357,915 tons.
Germany is the largest economy and lubricant market in the European Union.
Base oil production from used lubricant rerefineries in Germany has been growing. For April the office reported such facilities making 84,788 tons of base oil, an increase of 6% from the same month last year.