Demand for passenger car engine oil declined 16% to 12,843 tons in July, sales of engine oils used in commercial diesel vehicles dropped 22% to 1,113 tons, and automotive greases consumption fell 17% to 372 tons. Automatic transmission fluid sales experienced a 14% uptick to 778 tons.

Industrial lubricants demand – excluding process oils – was 16,185 tons in July, down from 17,759 tons year to year.

Hydraulic transmission oil consumption decreased 6% to 6,207 tons in July. Within that category, high-viscosity index oil consumption decreased 4% to 3,968 tons, and standard- viscosity index oils slipped 14% to 1,738 tons. Non-flammable oils were the one sub-category posting an increase, up 15% to 501 tons.

In the metalworking fluids category, demand for non-soluble types in July was down 1% at 1,893 tons, while sales of soluble variants dropped 31% to 1,430 tons. Turbine oil consumption fell 38% to 194 tons, and compressor oil demand declined 24%, also to 194 tons.

Process oils consumption fell 12% to 5,387 tons.

The Bank of France found in a survey of 8,500 business leaders – conducted from July 21 through Aug. 3 – that for the third consecutive month, supply difficulties eased slightly in July but were still significant in industry and construction in July. “The share of business leaders expecting to increase their selling prices declined, reflecting a perceived easing of pressures on raw material prices,” the bank said.

In July, activity was almost stable in industry, the survey found, slightly exceeding business leaders’ expectations last month of a decline. However, performances varied across sectors. The bank said that balances of opinion on production in July indicated strong momentum in the chemicals, electrical equipment, computer products and agri-food industries. Conversely, activity declined markedly in July, compared with June, in the automotive industry, rubber and plastics, and wearing apparel and textiles.