Behind every whirring gear, roaring engine, and spinning turbine lies a hidden, multi-billion dollar world of grease—a critical global industry where over 2.3 million tons of specialized lubricants keep the wheels of modern civilization turning, from the 45% consumed by the automotive sector to the high-performance greases demanded by robotics and wind turbines.
Key Takeaways
- The global lubricating grease market size was valued at USD 7.32 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.6% from 2024 to 2030.
- North America lubricating grease market accounted for 25% of global revenue in 2023.
- Asia Pacific region dominated the lubricating grease market with over 40% share in 2023 due to industrialization.
- Global grease production reached 2.2 million tons in 2022.
- China produced 850,000 metric tons of lubricating grease in 2022.
- United States grease production was 320,000 tons in 2023.
- Global grease consumption totaled 2.3 million tons in 2023.
- Automotive sector consumed 45% of global grease supply in 2023.
- Industrial machinery used 1.1 million tons of grease worldwide in 2022.
- North America consumed 550,000 tons of lubricating grease in 2023.
- Asia Pacific grease consumption share was 42% in 2023.
- Europe's grease demand stood at 480,000 tons in 2022.
- Lithium grease segment held 40% of global type-based market in 2023.
- Polyurea greases grew at 4.5% CAGR to 2023.
- Calcium sulfonate greases accounted for 12% market in 2023.
The global grease industry is growing steadily, led by Asia Pacific and industrial applications.
Application
- Automotive applications consumed 55% of grease types in 2023.
- Bearings used 30% of industrial greases in 2023.
- Gears and couplings took 15% grease usage in 2023.
- Electric motors required 120,000 tons grease in 2023.
- Food processing machinery used 35,000 tons NSF H1 greases in 2023.
- Wind turbines consumed 15,000 tons specialty grease in 2023.
- Chassis grease for vehicles 200,000 tons 2023.
- Wheel bearings grease 150,000 tons automotive 2023.
- CV joints grease demand 80,000 tons 2023.
- Compressors used 110,000 tons grease 2023.
- Pumps and valves grease 95,000 tons industrial 2023.
- Robotics arms grease 20,000 tons 2023.
Application Interpretation
Even as robots get their own special 20,000-ton manicure, the automotive world remains the undisputed grease king, demanding a majority share to keep its creaky kingdom of chassis, wheels, and joints from groaning into silence.
Company
- ExxonMobil produced 250,000 tons grease globally in 2023.
- TotalEnergies held 12% global grease market share in 2023.
- Fuchs Petrolub revenue from greases was EUR 450 million in 2023.
- Klüber Lubrication supplied 10% of premium greases in Europe 2023.
- PetroChina grease sales volume 200,000 tons in 2023.
- Schaeffer Manufacturing specialized in 50,000 tons custom greases 2023.
- NLGI Grade 2 greases accounted for 70% of sales worldwide in 2023.
- BP grease production 180,000 tons 2023.
- Lukoil greases 110,000 tons sales 2023.
- Indian Oil Corp grease output 70,000 tons 2023.
- Bel-Ray Company 25,000 tons motorcycle greases 2023.
- Mystik Lubricants regional share 8% US Southwest 2023.
Company Interpretation
While ExxonMobil may have squeezed out the most grease in sheer tonnage, the real story is a slippery tapestry where TotalEnergies holds a sizable global slice, Fuchs counts its premium euros, and everyone else—from PetroChina's volume to Bel-Ray's bike lube—jockeys for position in a world overwhelmingly stuck in NLGI Grade 2.
Consumption
- Global grease consumption totaled 2.3 million tons in 2023.
- Automotive sector consumed 45% of global grease supply in 2023.
- Industrial machinery used 1.1 million tons of grease worldwide in 2022.
- Aviation grease demand reached 25,000 tons globally in 2023.
- Marine sector grease consumption grew 4% to 180,000 tons in 2023.
- Construction equipment consumed 220,000 tons of grease in 2023.
- Food-grade grease usage was 50,000 tons globally in 2023.
- Rail sector grease use 40,000 tons in 2023.
- Mining equipment grease demand 90,000 tons 2023.
- Power generation plants used 75,000 tons grease 2023.
- Household appliances grease consumption 12,000 tons 2023.
- Steel mills applied 160,000 tons grease 2023.
- Textile machinery grease 25,000 tons globally 2023.
- Paper industry grease use 18,000 tons 2023.
Consumption Interpretation
While the world's machines whir, clank, and soar on 2.3 million tons of annual grease, it’s clear our automotive habits take the slippery lion's share, yet every sector from your humble fridge to mighty steel mills quietly depends on its dedicated dollop of industrial gloop.
Forecast
- Global grease market projected to reach USD 9.1 billion by 2030.
- CAGR for grease market expected at 3.2% from 2024-2032.
- Bio-based greases to grow at 5.8% CAGR to 2030.
- Electric vehicle impact to reduce automotive grease by 10% by 2030.
- Asia Pacific grease market to hit USD 3.8 billion by 2030.
- Recycling of used grease to increase 15% by 2028.
- High-performance greases demand up 4.1% annually to 2030.
- Grease relubrication intervals extended 20% with new tech 2023.
- Digital grease dispensing market to grow 6% CAGR to 2030.
- Low-carbon greases to capture 15% by 2035.
Forecast Interpretation
While the global grease market is quietly chugging toward a slick $9.1 billion future, it's simultaneously being pulled in every modern direction, from bio-based booms and digital dispensers to a shrinking automotive sector and the noble, if unglamorous, rise of the recycled goop.
Market Size
- The global lubricating grease market size was valued at USD 7.32 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.6% from 2024 to 2030.
- North America lubricating grease market accounted for 25% of global revenue in 2023.
- Asia Pacific region dominated the lubricating grease market with over 40% share in 2023 due to industrialization.
- Europe lubricating grease market was valued at USD 1.8 billion in 2023.
- The industrial grease segment held 60% of the global market in 2023.
- Automotive grease segment projected to grow at 3.1% CAGR through 2030.
- Lithium complex grease accounted for 35% market share in 2023 globally.
- Global grease imports totaled 450,000 tons in 2023.
- US imported 120,000 tons grease from Canada and Mexico in 2023.
- Turkey grease exports reached 35,000 tons in 2023.
- Global grease price averaged USD 3,200 per ton in 2023.
Market Size Interpretation
While the world's machinery grinds forward at a steady 2.6% clip, the real slick story is that industrial applications bear the 60% load, Asia Pacific keeps the gears turning, and America quietly imports a quarter of its grease from its neighbors to keep everything running smoothly.
Production
- Global grease production reached 2.2 million tons in 2022.
- China produced 850,000 metric tons of lubricating grease in 2022.
- United States grease production was 320,000 tons in 2023.
- India lubricating grease output increased by 5.2% to 150,000 tons in 2023.
- Germany produced 110,000 metric tons of specialty greases in 2022.
- Brazil grease manufacturing volume hit 80,000 tons in 2023.
- Russia produced 95,000 tons of industrial greases in 2023 despite sanctions.
- NLGI consistency grades distribution: Grade 2 at 68% in 2023.
- Base oil PAO used in 18% of premium greases produced 2023.
- Thickener production for greases: lithium soaps 1.2 million tons 2023.
- Additives market for greases valued USD 1.1 billion 2023.
- Water-resistant greases production up 6% to 400,000 tons 2023.
- Extreme pressure greases output 650,000 tons globally 2023.
Production Interpretation
While China single-handedly greased nearly 40% of the world's machinery, everyone else was busy specializing, innovating, and proving that even the most rigid global industries can still adapt under pressure.
Regional
- North America consumed 550,000 tons of lubricating grease in 2023.
- Asia Pacific grease consumption share was 42% in 2023.
- Europe's grease demand stood at 480,000 tons in 2022.
- Middle East grease market consumed 120,000 tons in 2023.
- Latin America used 150,000 tons of grease in industrial apps in 2023.
- Africa grease consumption grew to 90,000 tons in 2023.
- US market leader Shell held 15% share in grease sales 2023.
- China grease market dominated by Sinopec with 28% share in 2023.
- Southeast Asia grease consumption 280,000 tons 2023.
- South America grease market 140,000 tons 2023.
- Australia-New Zealand grease use 45,000 tons 2023.
- Saudi Arabia grease consumption 55,000 tons industrial 2023.
- UAE grease imports 20,000 tons 2023.
- Sub-Saharan Africa grease market growing 7% to 95,000 tons 2023.
Regional Interpretation
While North America gets its hands greasy with over half a million tons, the Asia Pacific region, led by giants like Sinopec, slickly claims nearly half the global market, proving the world's machinery quite literally runs on friction and regional ambition.
Type
- Lithium grease segment held 40% of global type-based market in 2023.
- Polyurea greases grew at 4.5% CAGR to 2023.
- Calcium sulfonate greases accounted for 12% market in 2023.
- Aluminum complex greases used in 8% of heavy-duty apps in 2023.
- Synthetic greases represented 22% of total volume in 2023.
- Mineral oil-based greases still 65% dominant in 2023.
- Nano-enhanced greases emerging with 2% share in 2023.
- Calcium grease types 15% share in marine applications 2023.
- Bentonite clay greases 5% for high-temp uses 2023.
- Fluoroether greases niche 1% but high value 2023.
- Overbased greases for corrosion 10% in autos 2023.
- Hybrid greases emerging 3% market penetration 2023.
- Silica-thickened greases 7% in electronics 2023.
Type Interpretation
The grease world in 2023 was a kingdom still ruled by the reliable old monarch Mineral Oil (65%), where the popular heir-apparent Lithium held court (40%), but a restless, innovative aristocracy of synthetics, specialties, and emerging hybrids was busily renovating the castle rooms for a more demanding future.
Sources & References
- Reference 1GRANDVIEWRESEARCHgrandviewresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 2MARKETSANDMARKETSmarketsandmarkets.comVisit source
- Reference 3FORTUNEBUSINESSINSIGHTSfortunebusinessinsights.comVisit source
- Reference 4MORDORINTELLIGENCEmordorintelligence.comVisit source
- Reference 5STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 6RESEARCHANDMARKETSresearchandmarkets.comVisit source
- Reference 7IMARCGROUPimarcgroup.comVisit source
- Reference 8NLGInlgi.orgVisit source
- Reference 9CHINAGREASEchinagrease.orgVisit source
- Reference 10APIapi.orgVisit source
- Reference 11INDIANPETROCHEMindianpetrochem.comVisit source
- Reference 12VDMLUBvdmlub.deVisit source
- Reference 13ANPanp.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 14LUKOILlukoil.comVisit source
- Reference 15IEAiea.orgVisit source
- Reference 16OICAoica.netVisit source
- Reference 17MACHINERYLUBRICATIONmachinerylubrication.comVisit source
- Reference 18IATAiata.orgVisit source
- Reference 19IMCA-INTimca-int.comVisit source
- Reference 20CONEXPOCONAGGconexpoconagg.comVisit source
- Reference 21NSFnsf.orgVisit source
- Reference 22NPAGREASEnpagrease.orgVisit source
- Reference 23APICLUBapiclub.orgVisit source
- Reference 24ATIELatiel.orgVisit source
- Reference 25MEPCAmepca.orgVisit source
- Reference 26ARGENTINA-LUBRICANTESargentina-lubricantes.comVisit source
- Reference 27AFRILUBEafrilube.orgVisit source
- Reference 28SHELLshell.comVisit source
- Reference 29SINOPECsinopec.comVisit source
- Reference 30KLUEBERklueber.comVisit source
- Reference 31DOWdow.comVisit source
- Reference 32MOBILmobil.comVisit source
- Reference 33CHEVRONLUBRICANTSchevronlubricants.comVisit source
- Reference 34BASFbasf.comVisit source
- Reference 35EXXONMOBILexxonmobil.comVisit source
- Reference 36NANOTECHLUBRICANTSnanotechlubricants.orgVisit source
- Reference 37SAEsae.orgVisit source
- Reference 38SKFskf.comVisit source
- Reference 39TIMKENtimken.comVisit source
- Reference 40EMERSONemerson.comVisit source
- Reference 41USDAusda.govVisit source
- Reference 42GWECgwec.netVisit source
- Reference 43CORPORATEcorporate.exxonmobil.comVisit source
- Reference 44TOTALENERGIEStotalenergies.comVisit source
- Reference 45FUCHSfuchs.comVisit source
- Reference 46PETROCHINApetrochina.com.cnVisit source
- Reference 47SCHAEFFEROILschaefferoil.comVisit source
- Reference 48EPAepa.govVisit source
- Reference 49TRADEMAPtrademap.orgVisit source
- Reference 50USITCusitc.govVisit source
- Reference 51TURKCHEMturkchem.orgVisit source
- Reference 52INDEXMUNDIindexmundi.comVisit source
- Reference 53CHEVRONPAOchevronpao.comVisit source
- Reference 54LITHIUMCOUNCILlithiumcouncil.orgVisit source
- Reference 55LUBRIZOLlubrizol.comVisit source
- Reference 56STLEstle.orgVisit source
- Reference 57UICuic.orgVisit source
- Reference 58MININGmining.comVisit source
- Reference 59WHIRLPOOLCORPwhirlpoolcorp.comVisit source
- Reference 60WORLDSTEELworldsteel.orgVisit source
- Reference 61ITMAitma.comVisit source
- Reference 62PAPERONWEBpaperonweb.comVisit source
- Reference 63ASEANLUBRICANTSaseanlubricants.orgVisit source
- Reference 64LUBRITEClubritec.orgVisit source
- Reference 65ACCCaccc.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 66SABICsabic.comVisit source
- Reference 67DUBAITRADEdubaitrade.gov.aeVisit source
- Reference 68AFROLUBEafrolube.netVisit source
- Reference 69CIMACcimac.comVisit source
- Reference 70CLAYTONclayton.comVisit source
- Reference 713M3m.comVisit source
- Reference 72VALVOLINEvalvoline.comVisit source
- Reference 73NYEnye.comVisit source
- Reference 74DUPONTdupont.comVisit source
- Reference 75NAPAnapa.comVisit source
- Reference 76GKNgkn.comVisit source
- Reference 77INGCOMPRESSORSingcompressors.comVisit source
- Reference 78FLOWSERVEflowserve.comVisit source
- Reference 79IFRifr.orgVisit source
- Reference 80BPbp.comVisit source
- Reference 81IOCLiocl.comVisit source
- Reference 82BELRAYbelray.comVisit source
- Reference 83MYSTIKmystik.comVisit source
- Reference 84ALMELalmel.comVisit source