Domestic deliveries of finished lubricants in Germany fell 32% in May, compared to the same month last year, according to new data from the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control.
The market is faring a bit better for the first five months of the year, running 8% behind 2023.
Finished lube domestic deliveries, including process oils, totaled 38,052 metric tons in May, down from 56,250 tons in May of last year. Deliveries of automotive engine oils, the largest category, saw one of the largest drops, falling 33% to 13,040 tons. Deliveries of gear oils, including automotive transmission fluids, slid 24% to 7,636 tons.
Hydraulic oils fell 54% to 2,109 tons, while machine oils dropped 51% to 906 tons and electrical insulating fluids decreased 27% to 952 tons.
Deliveries of process oils, including white oils, rose 7% to 9,815 tons.
Germany is the largest lubricant market in the European Union, but demand there has been shrinking since the COVID-19 pandemic.