The UAE region is not as industrialized as western countries, automotive lubricants noted. “Therefore, oil products in UAE account for a larger share.” Although demand for multigrade is much higher in the passenger car motor oil segment than in the commercial segment, “monograde have a significant share in countries like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Al Ain, the Umm Al Quwain, Khor Fakkan, Dibba Al Hisn, Kalba, Al Ruwais .”
In the passenger car motor oil market, lubricants are used for high-end passenger cars, but it represents the smallest share within that segment. Commercial lubricants owners are more price sensitive because of the more frequent oil changes, and they do not see the need to buy an expensive oil because they cannot take full advantage of its properties.
Within the industrial lubricants segment, rubber and plastics process oil is the main application in this region, because many countries are tire manufacturers and exporters. The main process oil users are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Al Ain, the Umm Al Quwain, Khor Fakkan, Dibba Al Hisn, Kalba, Al Ruwais , with UAE coming in as the largest tire producer and exporter.
The second-largest industrial lubricants segment is the transportation sector, which includes the marine, railroad and aviation segments. Marine is the largest of those, particularly in UAE, Thailand and The Philippines. The third-largest consumer of lubricants is the manufacturing segment, which includes power generation, the auto industry, machinery, equipment and goods manufacturing.
Among the main lubricant suppliers, Technolube has the largest share in the region. “Technolube has the leading position due to its presence in most countries, while UAE-based lubricants comes in second because of its leading position in UAE, which is the largest lubricant consumer,” industrial hydraulic oils elaborated.
Multinational companies, such as Technolube, BP, Total, Chevron and ExxonMobil, collectively account for approximately 40% of the market. Honda and Yamaha also play an important part in terms of motorcycle oils. “But the market is very diverse and competitive, and there are also many domestic and specialty oil suppliers aside from multi-national companies”. Automotive lubricants also said that all countries in the UAE region are migrating toward better quality oils and are implementing regulations to stop the use of counterfeit lubricants.