Written By: Sahar Matinfar, Regional Sales Director – East & Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is one of the most active lubricant markets in the world right now. Engines are running harder, factories are being built faster, and the quality bar for lubricant performance is rising across every major country in the region. For anyone working in lubricant formulation or additive supply, that combination is worth paying attention to.
At the center of that shift is a product category that does not always get the spotlight it deserves: the viscosity index improver. This article looks at why VII demand is growing across Southeast Asia, what is driving it, and what that means for lubricant manufacturers and blenders in the region.
Southeast Asia: A Market That Cannot Be Ignored
The numbers tell a clear story. The Southeast Asia lubricants market reached an estimated USD 5.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to climb to nearly USD 7.7 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual rate of around 4.2%.1 That growth is not evenly distributed, it is being driven by specific, structural forces that are reshaping the region.
Within that broader market, the Asia-Pacific region already leads the world in OCP-based viscosity index improver demand, with a market size of USD 1.18 billion in 2024 and a projected growth rate of 5.3% through 2033, outpacing every other region.2
These are market research estimates, and different sources will produce slightly different figures. But the directional story is consistent across all of them: this market is growing, and it is growing at a meaningful pace.
What Is Driving VII Demand Across the Region?
The growth story is not just about economic expansion in general. Several specific developments are pushing lubricant performance requirements higher and with them, demand for quality VII.
A Region That Runs on Engines
Motorcycles are the primary mode of transport across much of Southeast Asia, and Indonesia and Vietnam sit at the top of that list as the region’s two largest two-wheeler markets. That alone creates a steady, high-frequency demand for engine lubricants. Layer on top of that the commercial vehicle fleets supporting the region’s booming e-commerce and logistics sectors, and Thailand’s long-standing role as ASEAN’s largest automotive production hub, and you start to see just how much engine activity this region generates on any given day.
Factories Are Moving In
The broader shift of electronics and manufacturing production into Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, is creating a new wave of industrial lubricant demand. New factories need hydraulic systems, gearboxes, and metalworking equipment. All of that requires lubricants that perform consistently under load, which puts formulation quality front and center.
Rising Performance Standards
Perhaps the most important long-term driver is a quiet shift in quality expectations. OEM requirements, tighter regulatory standards, and growing technical awareness among distributors and fleet operators are pushing the market away from monograde products toward multigrade and semi-synthetic formulations. Every step in that direction makes getting the VII right more critical not less.
Getting the VII Right for the Region
The demand picture across Southeast Asia is not uniform. Different countries, applications, and customer requirements call for different levels of shear stability, thickening efficiency, and handling convenience. Based on demand patterns across Southeast Asia, three products from the LUBIMAX™ portfolio consistently standout as the most requested by lubricant manufacturers and blenders in the region. Each one addresses a specific formulation need that is prevalent here.
LUBIMAX™ 114
Extremely shear-stable VII designed for high-performance automotive crankcase lubricants and long-drain interval applications.
✔ SSI: 15
✔ Excellent shear stability
✔ Suitable for premium lubricant formulations
✔ Easy handling pellet form
LUBIMAX™ 5524
Amorphous OCP designed to provide an excellent balance between thickening efficiency and shear stability.
✔ SSI: 24
✔ Drop-in performance at Industry-Standard SSI
✔ Excellent cold flow performance
✔ Fast formulation & Broad Viscosity Grade Coverage
LUBIMAX™ ST26
Styrene star-shaped polymer to formulate robust high-quality multigrade automotive and motorcycle oil.
✔ SSI: 11
✔ Excellent viscosity retention in high-temperature, high-RPM service
✔ Suitable for premium multigrade and performance-driven formulation
✔ Supports stable friction and HTHS behavior in wet-clutch and high-load applications
All the above-mentioned products are also available in liquid form to support different production efficiencies, formulation approaches, and customer manufacturing requirements.
The LUBIMAX™ Viscosity Index Improver portfolio continues to grow alongside market requirements, covering the full range from premium low-SSI technologies to high-efficiency, cost-optimised solutions for both automotive and industrial lubricant applications.
If you are formulating for Southeast Asian markets and want to understand which LUBIMAX™ VII grade fits your application, our technical team is happy to help. Reach out for product datasheets, samples, or a formulation conversation.
Contact us today and discover how LUBIMAX™ VII grades can help you meet Southeast Asia’s growing lubricant demands.
References
[1] IMARC Group — South East Asia Lubricants Market (imarcgroup.com). Market research estimate
[2] DataIntelo — Viscosity Index Improver OCP Market Research Report 2033 (dataintelo.com). Market research estimate.