Middle East and Africa Rail Greases Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis by Product Type, Application, and Distribution Channel

The rail greases market in MEA is expected to reach US$ 39.93 million by 2027 from US$ 34.11 million in 2018 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.9% from 2019 to 2027.

The introduction of new technologies such as AI, big data, and cloud computing in the conventional railway networks is bolstering the growth of the rail greases market. Digitalization is changing the global economy at a growing rate and is transforming traditional setups and established processes to a profitable model on a long-term basis. The fourth industrial revolution and the intelligent networking of machines and factories in the Internet of Things will make the connection of software, mechanics, and electronics via internet of a previously unfathomable complexity possible in the near future. For railways, the main impact of digitalization is on the model of operation. Technologies like AI, big data and cloud computing, connectivity and autonomous driving will affect the industry. The rail industry uses these technologies effectively to identify the maintenance activities, to monitor operation of each component in the rail network and preventive measures for particular mishap in terms of operation. Based on such results the rail industry can estimate the demand of lubricants and greases, replacement of components or maintenance of particular units in advance. This will help the rail industry to save cost and avoid disruptions in services. The growing demand for biodegradable rail greases is among the other factors expected to positively influence the growth of the rail greases market.

Based on product type, the MEA rail greases market is segmented into lithium grease, calcium grease, and other grease. The lithium grease segment dominated the MEA rail greases and is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Greases are produced by mixing oil or mineral oil and thickeners such as calcium-based soap and lithium-based soaps. Greases may also contain additional lubricating particles, such as molybdenum disulfide, graphite, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Different types of greases combine the lubricating properties of oils with added stickiness, which allows the lubricant to adhere to the surfaces better. Greases act as a barrier, protecting the surfaces from contaminants that can damage or corrode them. Lithium greases are highly preferred in the railways and trains due to its usage in a wide range of applications in rail components such as curved tooth coupling, cardan shaft, axle boxes, and brake system. When lithium greases were introduced in the marketplace, they were found to be superior to calcium and sodium greases, and soon became the most popular multi-purpose greases in industry.

COVID-19 has affected economies and industries in various countries due to lockdowns, travel bans, and business shutdowns. The chemical and material industry is one of the major industries facing serious disruptions such as supply chain breaks, disruptions in manufacturing due to lockdown and office shutdowns as a result of COVID-19 outbreak. All these factors have greatly affected the rail grease market. Saudi Arabia has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the MEA region, and is followed by South Africa and the UAE. The UAE was the first country in MEA to report a confirmed case of COVID-19.

The overall MEA rail greases market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources. To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market. The process also serves the purpose of obtaining overview and forecast for the MEA rail greases market with respects to all the segments pertaining to the region. Also, multiple primary interviews have been conducted with industry participants and commentators to validate the data, as well as to gain more analytical insights into the topic. The participants who typically take part in such a process include industry experts such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers along with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in the MEA rail greases market. Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Total SA, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), FUCHS, SKF Group, Chevron Corporation, and Klüber Lubrication and Sinopec Corp. are among a few players operating in the MEA rail greases market.

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