COMPANY

Building a Lubricants Business in the Region

As Africa’s lubricant industry continues to evolve, one company stands out for pioneering localised manufacturing of Lubricant Additives in Africa - Adipro International Corporation. A global player with operations across India, Africa, Europe, the USA and the Middle East, Adipro has made a significant mark by establishing local additive manufacturing in West Africa.

In this exclusive interview, Lubezine Magazine talks to Adipro International Managing Director, Umesh Amarnani who shares insights into the company’s journey, the motivations behind local production, the challenges encountered and Adipro’s ambitious road map for expanding its footprint across the African continent.

Q1. Could you tell us about Adipro as a company?

Adipro is a global chemical organisation specialising in the manufacturing of components and lubricant additives. Over the years, we have grown into a trusted partner for the automotive, industrial and marine sectors. The key factors that differentiate us are our commitment to technical excellence, customer-centric formulations and a truly global perspective delivered with strong regional execution.

We operate across multiple geographies, but Africa holds a particularly strategic position in our long-term vision. Our family established its roots in Africa in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1947.

Our main objective has always been to build reliable, high-quality chemical manufacturing capabilities within the continent.

One key strategic area where we have consistently invested is performance testing. We operate our Africa Technology Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, and our Global Technology Centre in Mumbai, India. In addition to our own testing facilities, we also work extensively with renowned testing organisations such as SWRI, Savant and Intertek laboratories for engine testing.

Our investment in performance data is driven by our clients’ needs and includes extensive bench tests, engine tests, field trials, multiple formulations and base oil testing, as well as specific licensing projects covering API, ACEA, JASO and OEM approvals.

Q2. When did Adipro begin manufacturing additives in West Africa?

We began manufacturing additives in West Africa in 2020, following a detailed market assessment, meticulous planning and infrastructure development. Establishing local production in Nigeria was a major milestone for us and for the region. It allowed us to move from being just a supplier to becoming an embedded manufacturing partner within Africa’s lubricant ecosystem, working closely with leading international oil companies.

Mr. Umesh Amarnani, MD Adipro International.

Q3. What drove the decision to manufacture additives locally?

For Adipro, local manufacturing in Africa was a strategic necessity, particularly after capturing more than 50% market share of the Nigerian lubricant additive market. Historically, African lubricant blenders depended heavily on imports of base oils and additives, which resulted in long lead times, high freight costs and exposure to supply-chain disruptions.

As Adipro already possessed the required technology through our in-house R&D operations in India, where we manufacture components and additive packages, transferring this knowhow to Africa was a logical next step.

Producing locally allows us to offer customers shorter delivery cycles, better pricing and customised formulations suited to African climatic and operational conditions. It also contributes to regional economic development and reduces reliance on international supply chains.

As I often say, “Producing additives locally is more than a business decision – it is a catalyst for self-reliance and being a trusted anchor for guaranteed supply of product in the region.”

Q4. Which markets does Adipro currently serve in Africa?

We started in Nigeria, which has a strong and growing demand for quality lubricants. Beyond Nigeria, we supply to other African markets including Ghana in West Africa as well as Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Egypt and South Africa.

Our product portfolio includes automotive additive packages, industrial and marine formulations, as well as specialised products for metalworking fluids.

We continue to develop cutting-edge technologies in line with market requirements, leveraging our robust testing capabilities to deliver best-in-class solutions. As demand grows, our regional reach continues to expand naturally.

Q5. What are the key advantages of producing additives locally?

There are several key advantages:

• Shorter lead times: Customers no longer wait weeks or months; we are able to deliver within days.

• Improved cost efficiency: There is a substantial reduction in financing and inventory costs, as finished additive stockholding is minimised.

Stock is held in component form at Adipro’s Nigeria facility and blended closer to demand.

Adipro Retreat in September 2025 at the Adipro Africa Technology Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

SOURCE | ADIPRO INTERNATIONAL

• Local industry growth: Manufacturing contributes directly to job creation, technical capability development and economic resilience.

• Lower carbon emissions: Local manufacturing of additives has resulted in an approximate 25% reduction in carbon emissions.

In simple terms, local production enhances competitiveness for regional blenders and delivers greater value to the final consumer.

Q6. What challenges have you encountered in Nigeria?

Manufacturing in Nigeria does present challenges, ranging from infrastructure constraints and regulatory complexities to raw material dependencies. Power fluctuations, logistics issues and port-related delays also require careful planning.

However, we view these challenges as opportunities. We have invested in skilled manpower, strong operational systems and diversified global supply chains to ensure consistency and reliability.

“Every challenge has pushed us to innovate and strengthen our processes,” and that resilience is now an integral part of our manufacturing DNA.

Q7. What production volumes are you currently operating at?

Our current production volumes exceed 35 MT per year, aligned with the requirements of West African lubricant blenders. More importantly, the facility has been designed for scalability. We can expand capacity through additional reactors, enhanced blending lines or increased storage infrastructure as demand continues to rise.

Africa is growing rapidly and our plant is built to grow alongside it.

Q8. What are Adipro’s expansion plans across Africa?

While Adipro continues to grow at an accelerated pace, our ultimate purpose is to deliver quality products, provide clear value addition to our customers, ensure timely supply and maintain reasonable pricing.

Our vision is clear: “Africa is the future. We aim to be at the centre of its growth”.

We work hand in hand with the international oil companies and large independent lubricant blenders, as they remain open to working with additive companies beyond the traditional “big four”, provided the next generation additive companies can demonstrate strong commitment to quality and performance testing. This approach supports Adipro to continue investment in testing and enables the delivery of intelligent, cost-effective solutions to customers”.

Q9. How do you see the African additives market evolving?

Industrialisation is accelerating, automotive ownership is rising and governments are increasingly encouraging local manufacturing.

At the same time, there is a shift towards higher-quality formulations, OEM-driven performance requirements and stricter standards. These changes will require reliable additive partners with strong technical and manufacturing capabilities.

We believe Africa’s market will increasingly favour companies that successfully combine global expertise with local execution and that is precisely where we are positioning ourselves.