The lubricants market combines a wide spectrum of companies of all types, from material manufacturers of lubricant oils to dealers, importers or intracommunity purchasers of devices, equipment, vehicles or machinery that contain industrial oils. This covers all kinds of sectors of activity: the petroleum industry, energy operators, vehicle manufacturers, car repair chains, car accessory and replacement part companies, importers, e-commerce, machinery, commercial department stores and lubricant distributors.

This diversity means that the lubricants market is normally representative of the state of the economy in general. Over the past year, the Spanish economy grew by 3.2% according to data from the National Institute of Statistics. As a whole, the lubricants market adhered to SIGAUS performed practically flat compared to 2023, growing by 0.2% in a year once again marked by inflation and military conflicts, which have an impact on private consumption and industrial production, the two main components of demand for this product.

Adherence to SIGAUS

The volume of industrial oils adhered to SIGAUS grew by 0.2%, with the sale of 288,144 tons of industrial oil in the national market. The SIGAUS market was marked by volatility, with continuous peaks of rises and falls throughout the year, especially significant in the monthly evolution, where seasonality and other elements that affected consumption caused strong fluctuations both in one direction (+11% compared to 2023 in April and July) and in the other (-16% in March and -9% in August). On a quarterly basis, the year began with a decline of 5.3%, which was then offset by progressive increases of 1.6%, 1.9% and 2.5% in the following three quarters, respectively.

Distribution per activity

By sectors, oil for the automotive sector was the most represented, with 57%, a total of 164,944 tons, although with a slight growth of 0.1%. 41% percent was consumed by the industrial sector, 118,647 tons, with a certain decrease of -0.2% with respect to 2023. In both cases, domestic production was the majority in relative weight over the total of the category (64% and 77%, respectively). Overall, domestically manufactured lubricants fell slightly by -1.5%, while imported lubricants grew by 3.9%. 

Lastly, 4,552 t of oils destined for other uses were marketed, such as oils for small tools, multipurpose aerosols, compressors or chain lubrication.