Key Takeaways
- In 2019, the automotive and transportation industries were found to be the dominant grease end-user industry. Whereas in chemical manufacturing the consumption of grease is expected to record the highest CAGR over the forecast period.
- Recent development and new construction projects are likely to act as a catalyst in the future in North America and Asia-Pacific areas.
- Asia-Pacific led the grease industry followed by North America and Europe worldwide with, among others, the highest demand from countries like the U.S, China, India, and Germany.
By Thickeners- Segment Analysis
During the forecast period, metal soap thickener is expected to see the fastest growth. This is attributed to its multifunctional properties which make it suitable for use in the general manufacturing industries of automobile, building & off-highways.In addition to other desirable properties such as load bearing, shear strength, water resistance and corrosion safety, metal soap thickener has better ability to maintain outstanding consistency at higher temperatures.
By End User – Segment Analysis
In 2019, automotive and other transport is the biggest and fastest-growing end-use grease market. In the automotive industry, passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles power the demand for high-performance grease.Grease is commonly used in the automotive industry for numerous auto parts such as wheel bearings, springs, universal joints, axes, cables, and switches owing to its outstanding properties such as heat sensitivity, structural strength, antioxidants, and water resistance.
Geography- Segment Analysis
Asia-Pacific leads the consumption-driven grease industry in 2019, led by North America and Europe. During the forecast period, China, India and Indonesia are predicted to be leading countries with strong demand for grease.Asia-Pacific has been a promising area for automotive manufacturing and sales growth, with countries like China, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia displaying steady growth levels in 2019. In 2019, however, car demand in China (a major manufacturer of vehicles in the region) declined.Certain end-user sectors, such as construction and manufacturing, are rising with that investments in ASEAN countries, further leading to the development of lubricants use as a whole and grease in the region in general.
Drivers –Grease Market
- The growing development in automotive industry and the production of EVs and Hybrid vehicles leads the market growth.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) and hybrids (HEVs), is expected to become more common in the future. The motor bearings used in EVs and HEVs require grease lubrication. Grease lubrication has also been adopted for large motors with relatively low speeds.As a semi-solid, grease does not require liquid sealing and circulation mechanisms such as oil lubricants, giving it an advantage in terms of reducing a vehicle’s size and weight. As a result, manufacturers seek to expand the applicable range of grease lubricants and develop greases that can be used with high-speed motors as well as low-torque technologies. The growing technologies and the development of high speed motors in electric vehicles lead the market growth.
Challenges – Grease Market
- Lacks of standards, characteristics, and testing methods on grease is constraining the market growth.
Identifying issues with lubricants can often be a difficult task.The underlying cause of an issue may not be apparent even with mineral oils or chemical liquids where oil testing is popular and widely used.The picture becomes even cloudier and more complicated by matching greases. Some greases have basic characteristics that can be used to contrast with each other.The issues become even more complex with in-service oil. Very little research is conducted on in-service grease to assess how the material can hold up or whether the device will rust prematurely. There are ways to incorporate grease testing into a preventive maintenance system, but the findings of the test are far from standardized and more difficult to interpret.The low speed in R&D testing and developments is constraining the growth of grease in the world of lubricants which overall reduce the market growth.
Market Landscape
Technology launches,acquisitions and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the Grease market. In 2019, the market of Greasehas been consolidated by the top five players accounting for xx% of the share. Major players in the Grease Market areCastrol, Exxon Mobil, Dow Corning Ltd., Chevron Corporation, Lukeoil, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Sinopec Corporation, Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd, and Petronas. Other major players influencing the global market are Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Citgo Petroleum Corporation, and Harrison Manufacturing Co. PTY Ltd.,among others.
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