Lubricants Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Lubricants Market is projected to expand from USD 129.33 Billion in 2025 to USD 164.97 Billion by 2031, registering a compound annual growth rate of 4.14%. Lubricants are tribological substances, typically in fluid or grease form, designed to lower friction, disperse heat, and prevent wear and corrosion between moving surfaces. The primary factors fueling this market growth include robust industrialization, rising maintenance needs for heavy machinery, and the steady expansion of the automotive manufacturing sector. Highlighting this demand, the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers reported that global motor vehicle production hit 93.5 million units in 2023, creating a significant requirement for automotive fluids to support such output.

However, the market faces a substantial obstacle due to the global automotive industry's rapid shift toward electric vehicles. Unlike internal combustion engines, electric powertrains require fewer and distinct types of fluids, effectively reducing the long-term volumetric demand for traditional engine oils. This technological transition, coupled with improvements in fluid durability that allow for extended drain intervals, presents a structural barrier to the continued volume growth of conventional lubricant products.

Market Drivers

Rapid industrialization and the growth of the manufacturing sector in emerging economies act as a foundational driver for the global lubricants market. As developing nations transition toward industrial-led economies, there has been a surge in the installation and operation of hydraulic systems, turbines, and metalworking machinery, necessitating large volumes of industrial fluids. This trend is particularly strong in Asia, where production output exceeds that of developed regions; according to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, manufacturing sectors in China, India, and Indonesia saw annual output increases surpassing 4% in the fourth quarter of 2023, directly driving the consumption of hydraulic fluids, gear oils, and metalworking fluids essential for operational efficiency.

Concurrently, rising infrastructure development and construction activities are boosting the demand for heavy-duty lubricants. Major projects, ranging from residential complexes to public utilities, rely on earthmoving equipment like excavators and cranes, which require specialized engine oils and greases to endure extreme loads. The U.S. Census Bureau reported in June 2024 that construction spending in the United States reached $635.5 billion during the first four months of the year, a 10.9% increase over the same period in 2023, ensuring steady aftermarket demand. In this competitive landscape, major suppliers dominate distribution; Shell PLC, for instance, confirmed in November 2024 that it retained its status as the leading global finished lubricant supplier with an 11.6% market share in 2023.

Market Challenges

The accelerated transition toward electric vehicles presents a distinct challenge to the volumetric growth of the lubricants market. As automotive manufacturers increasingly prioritize electric powertrains over internal combustion engines, the necessity for traditional engine oils diminishes significantly. Electric units eliminate the need for crankcase oil, which has historically accounted for a large portion of total automotive lubricant consumption, thereby directly reducing the addressable market for high-volume conventional products.

This trend is reinforced by the growing market share of electrified transport. The International Energy Agency projected that global electric car sales would reach 17 million units in 2024, signaling a robust shift away from fossil-fuel-dependent technologies. This substantial rise in non-combustion vehicles, combined with advancements in fluid durability that extend service intervals, constrains the volumetric demand for standard lubricants and leads to a structural contraction in the market’s largest segment.

Market Trends

The rising utilization of re-refined base oils within circular economy models is fundamentally reshaping the supply chain by valuing used oil as a critical feedstock rather than waste. This trend differs from traditional capacity expansion by prioritizing the regeneration of existing resources to lower carbon footprints and reduce reliance on virgin crude refining. Major energy companies are actively adopting advanced re-refining technologies to create high-purity base stocks that match the quality of conventional products; for example, TotalEnergies significantly expanded its circular capabilities in July 2024 by acquiring Tecoil, a Finnish facility capable of producing 50,000 tons of re-refined base oils annually.

Simultaneously, the surging demand for high-performance lubricants in renewable energy sectors is creating a high-value market segment tailored to the technical needs of green power generation. Assets such as wind turbines, which operate under erratic loads and harsh environmental conditions, require specialized synthetic formulations to ensure reliability and minimize costly maintenance downtime. This focus on operational efficiency is driving the adoption of premium fluids; as noted by Manufacturing Today India in October 2024, Klüber Lubrication’s implementation of specialized lubricants and efficiency programs resulted in energy savings exceeding 445,000 MWh for its clients.

Key Players Profiled in the Lubricants Market

• ExxonMobil Corporation
• Shell PLC
• TotalEnergies SE
• Chevron Corporation
• Castrol Limited
• Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.
• Cummins Inc.
• Eni S.p.A
• Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
• Sasol Limited

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Lubricants Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Lubricants Market, by Group:

• Group I
• Group II
• Group III
• Group IV
• Group V

Lubricants Market, by Base Stock:

• Mineral Oil Lubricants
• Synthetic Lubricants
• Semi-Synthetic Lubricants
• Bio-Based Lubricants

Lubricants Market, by Product Type:

• Engine Oil
• Transmission
• Hydraulic Fluid
• Metalworking Fluid
• General Industrial Oil
• Gear Oil
• Grease
• Process Oil
• Others

Lubricants Market, by End User:

• Power Generation
• Automotive
• Heavy Equipment
• Food & Beverage
• Metallurgy
• Chemical Manufacturing
• Others

Lubricants Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Lubricants Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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