Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market Research Report: Forecast (2026-2030)

Market Insights & Analysis: Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market (2026-30):

The Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market size is valued at around 612 million liters in 2025 and is expected to reach 802 million liters by 2030. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 5.56% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-30. There are several factors driving the growth of the market, such as the country’s expanding refining and petrochemical capacity, which is partly due to Aramco’s push for shifting more crude into refined products and petrochemicals. This includes increasing downstream investments and joint-venture expansion, such as Yasref, which are propelling the local availability of base oils and intermediate feedstocks in the country, thereby lowering the costs involved with logistics and driving more local blends and additive integrations.

Moreover, the continued expansion of the infrastructure, construction, utilities, and new manufacturing zones in the country under the Vision 2030 program is increasing the demand for high-performing lubricating oil, which is a segment that heavily relies on additives to deliver longer drain intervals and equipment uptime. Additionally, the country’s steadily growing population is fueling a sustained inflow of passenger and commercial vehicles, thereby increasing the consumption of automotive-grade oils and driving the demand for additives such as dispersants, detergents, anti-wear, viscosity-modifier, etc.

Furthermore, there is strict enforcement of regulations related to lubricating oil additives, which is pushing additive players toward high-performance, low-emission, and fuel-efficient formulations for compliance. For instance, technical regulations set by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) are driving the demand for OEM-spec and low-SAPS (Sulphated Ash, Phosphorus, and Sulphur) additives, thereby benefiting suppliers with technical support and approval capabilities. Therefore, these factors are augmenting the size & volume of the Lubricating Oil Additives Industry in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market Scope:

Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market Driver:

Expanding Automotive & Transportation Sectors – The market growth is mainly due to the country’s expanding automotive and transportation sectors, led by the increasing demand & sales of passenger and commercial vehicles. This is driving high demand for lubricating oils and additives such as viscosity modifiers, detergents, anti-wear, etc., which are essential for protecting the various moving metal parts in engines, to comply with regulations related to fuel economy and emissions in the country. For instance, the General Authority for Statistics (Saudi Arabia) noted that the transport sector contributes around 6% to the national GDP, thereby exhibiting the continued need for high-performing lubricating oil additives. Additionally, the country’s expanding logistics, supported by large-scale infrastructure projects like NEOM, are reinforcing the requirement for trucks and construction equipment. Therefore, these factors are anticipated to drive the market growth in the country over the forecast period.

Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market Opportunity:

Localization of Additive Development & Increasing Demand for EVs – There is a high opportunity to localize the development and supply of lubricant oil additives for electric vehicle (EV) fluids due to the country's aim of becoming a global automotive manufacturing hub, particularly for EVs, with ventures such as Lucid Motors and the Public Investment Fund-backed brand, Ceer. This is creating a new domestic value chain in the country. Also, EVs do not use conventional engine oil and are dependent on advanced fluids such as e-transmission fluids, battery coolants, and e-greases, thereby driving the demand for additives that provide superior thermal management, electrical property control, and material compatibility with copper coils and advanced polymers.

Moreover, additive manufacturers can capitalize on pioneering this segment in the country by establishing local research and development (R&D) and supply partnerships directly with these EV manufacturers. This will help in achieving high margins, thereby leaving traditional players behind and capturing a large market share in the automotive sector. Therefore, this will contribute to the growth of the market in the country over the forecast period.

Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market Challenge:

Strict Regulatory Framework – The regulations are strict and complex for chemical importation and registration in the country, which is impacting the diverse component portfolios used in lubricant additives. Also, while the country has aimed to streamline business setups, the technical requirements for importing chemicals are becoming more challenging. For instance, regulatory bodies such as the SASO, through its SABER platform, have implemented multilayered conformity and registration processes in the country, thereby creating high operational challenges in the market.

Moreover, this is increasing the lead times for additive manufacturers and suppliers, and lubricant blenders in introducing new products due to high compliance and innovation-related costs in the market. For instance, registering a new high-performing friction modifier or an antioxidant molecule additive can be a lengthy and expensive process, which is particularly impactful for smaller players, as it can delay the local availability of next-generation lubricants that are needed to meet the changing regulatory standards. Therefore, this is hindering the further market growth & expansion in the coming years.

Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market Trend:

Inclination Towards Sustainable Lubricant Oil Additives – There is increasing demand for environmentally sustainable lubricant oil additives, due to regulatory bodies enforcing strict standards, particularly for the automotive sector in the country. This is due to the overarching sustainability aim of the Saudi Vision 2030 program to lower the emission of carbon from many of its heavy industries and diversify the economy away from its reliance on crude oil exports. Therefore, this is compelling players to switch to better environment-conforming lubricating oil additives to gain a competitive advantage in the market.

Moreover, in the automotive sector, newer and more fuel-efficient engines with advanced exhaust after-treatment systems are becoming a standard in the country, thereby increasing the demand for lubricant oils and additives that meet the latest specifications by the American Petroleum Institute (API), such as the API SP. These include additives such as dispersants, detergents, and friction modifiers to protect the many moving metal parts in engines that come under high stress and temperatures. Therefore, inclination towards sustainable lubricant oil & additives is changing market dynamics and showing market players a new path for further growth & expansion.

Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market (2026-30): Segmentation Analysis

The Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market study of MarkNtel Advisors evaluates & highlights the major trends and influencing factors in each segment. It includes predictions for the period 2026–2030 at the national level. Based on the analysis, the market has been further classified as:

Based on Type:

• Detergents
• Dispersants
• Viscosity Index Improvers
• Anti-Wear Agents
• Extreme Pressure Additives
• Corrosion Inhibitors
• Antioxidants
• Friction Modifiers
• Others

Among these, the dispersants segment dominates the market in the country with a share of around 26%. Its dominance is due to its essential function in suspending soot, sludge, and other contaminants within lubricating oils, which is particularly important for protecting heavy moving parts and increasing their longevity. This high demand is also driven by the desert climate of the country, which includes hot temperatures and sandy conditions that can cause quick degradation of oil.

Moreover, this market lead is reinforced by the expanding vehicle parc in the country, with high usage of passenger and commercial vehicles for transport. For instance, lubricants for heavy-duty diesel trucks that operate in construction and logistics must contain high concentrations of advanced succinimide dispersants to prevent the formation of deposits. This is as per the set standards by bodies such as API. Therefore, these factors are ensuring the market lead of this segment in the country.

Based on End-User:

• Automotive
• Industrial
• Marine
• Aerospace
• Others

Out of these, the automotive segment holds the largest market share of around 62%. The market lead of the automotive sector is due to the rapidly expanding vehicle parc in the country, driven by the steadily rising per capita income of the consumers, national geographical land favoring road transport, and high government investment in logistics and infrastructure under the Vision 2030 program. For instance, this is driving high demand for engine oils and heavy-duty lubricants in commercial trucks that power mega projects such as NEOM, thereby contributing to the market lead of this sector.

Moreover, there is increasing demand for electric and hybrid vehicles, which is creating new avenues for players who can provide a range of resilient, anti-wear, and extreme-pressure lubricant solutions for EVs in the country. Also, even though commonly used additives such as Zinc Dithiophosphate (ZDDP) deliver around 70% system efficiency, these metal-containing lubricants have a lack of longevity and an inability to withstand the harsh conditions and temperatures of EV engine systems. This is increasing the need by OEMs and formulators to innovate their additive offerings to benefit EV engine performance and reliability, thereby gaining a competitive market advantage. Therefore, the automotive sector is generating maximum demand for lubricating oil additives and is anticipated to continue to generate demand during the forecast period as well.

Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Industry Recent Development:

• 2025: Infineum, a global leader in the fuel and lubricant additives market, has independently tested and verified its marine fuels products’ claims with Lloyd’s Register (LR). The LR assessment involved lab testing and a field trial, which resulted in an Additive Performance Certificate and Statement of Fact.
• 2025: Chevron Oronite received an additional approval from Volvo for its OLOA® 61530 high-tier heavy-duty universal additive. With the addition of this VDS-5 approval, Chevron Oronite is now offering a versatile product that includes key European high-tier OEM approvals. Volvo developed this specification to help improve the fuel economy of its engines and deliver longer drain intervals. Oils meeting the VDS-5 specification are formulated with a powerful additive package to help prevent oil degradation caused by oxidation.

Gain a Competitive Edge with Our Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market Report

1. Saudi Arabia Lubricating Oil Additives Market Report by MarkNtel Advisors provides a detailed & thorough analysis of market size & share, growth rate, competitive landscape, and key players. This comprehensive analysis helps businesses gain a holistic understanding of the market dynamics & make informed decisions.
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