Welcome to the last edition of the year 2025. The year has been a busy one for the lubricants industry globally; experiencing new product launches to meet the latest industry standards and specifications, mergers and acquisitions, and a drive for companies to expand their market footprints in different parts of the world.
As 2025 draws to a close, Africa’s lubricants industry finds itself at a pivotal crossroad. Growth is evident, opportunities are available, and innovation is accelerating; but, so too are the complexities of operating in an increasingly demanding and fragmented market. In this issue, we focus on how products, partnerships, and pathways to market are being redefined across the continent.
Our cover feature, Route to Market: Unlocking Growth Opportunities in Africa’s Lubricants Sector, captures a reality many industry players know all too well: success in Africa is no longer determined by product quality alone. Distribution models are evolving, customer expectations are rising, and proximity to the end user has become a strategic advantage. As highlighted in this issue, Africa is not a single market but a blend of mature hubs, fast-growing volume markets, and frontier economies each requiring tailored approaches, local insight, and long-term commitment.
In our exclusive interview with Umesh Amarnani, the Managing Director of Adipro International, we explore what it means to invest in Africa through local additive manufacturing, technical capability building, and supply chain resilience. The shift from import dependence to regional production is increasingly a necessity for competitiveness, sustainability, and reliability in African markets.
In our technical features on lubricant formulation in Africa, we explore how newer engine technologies, tighter OEM requirements, and sustainability pressures are reshaping product development in South Africa. We also look at what it takes to produce lubricants for the Nigerian market, which presents unique formulation challenges. With an older average fleet age, extreme operating environments, and a market highly exposed to counterfeits, lubricant performance in
Nigeria must account for contamination, inconsistent maintenance practices, and extended drain realities. Here, formulation is less about theoretical compliance and more about robustness, adaptability, and real-world resilience.
Throughout this issue, readers will find developments in digital lubrication platforms, immersion cooling fluids, sustainable base oils, next-generation engine and transmission lubricants, and environmentally responsible coolants. As we look ahead to 2026, Africa’s lubricants industry will reward those who understand their markets, formulate intelligently for local realities, and invest with a long-term view.
At Lubezine, we remain committed to keeping the conversation going, connecting market insight, technical knowledge, and industry leadership across the continent. Thank you for your continued readership and support. We look forward to navigating the year ahead together.
Happy Holidays!