Germany’s domestic lubricant demand decreased 4% to 55,842 tons in November, according to data released Feb. 1 by a German government agency. The total excludes base oils, base oil refining extracts and industrial oils not used in lubrication.
Motor oil sales increased 3% to 19,815 tons in November, compared to the same month in 2021, according to data from the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Exported Control.
Demand for automatic transmission fluid jumped 29% to 4,897 tons, and gear oils for cars was up 26% at 3,932 tons, while industrial gear oils climbed 55% to 2,846 tons.
Hydraulic oils demand declined 12% to 6,274 tons and sales of transformer oil decreased 10% to 1,186 tons, while sales of machine oils dropped 31% to 2,013 tons.
All metalworking oil segment categories dropped in demand in November. Water-miscible oils demand fell 39% to 1,192 tons, while non-water miscible oils demand dropped 42% to 1,221 tons. Corrosion inhibitors declined 37% to 215 tons.
Overall grease demand decreased 11% to 2,043 tons, while greases for automotive applications increased 2% to 564 tons.
The data includes process oils, which declined 13% to 8,861 tons in November.