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Multi-grade oils only work because of a specific class of polymer additive that keeps viscosity from collapsing at high temperature or thickening excessively in the cold — without viscosity index improvers, engine oil would either be too thin to protect a hot engine or too thick to circulate on a cold start. This foundational additive category was valued at USD 2,964.8 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 4,678.8 million by 2035 at a 5.2% CAGR, a pace somewhat ahead of the broader lubricant additives market given viscosity improvers’ central role in the industry’s ongoing shift toward higher-performance multi-grade formulations.
Polymethacrylates and olefin copolymers represent the two leading polymer chemistries, each with distinct trade-offs around shear stability, low-temperature performance, and cost that make them better suited to different lubricant applications. Passenger car motor oils represent the largest single application given global vehicle volumes, though industrial hydraulic fluids and gear oils increasingly rely on viscosity index improvers as well, particularly as industrial equipment operators pursue wider operating temperature ranges and extended service intervals that a single-grade fluid couldn’t reliably support.
Why do multi-grade oils need viscosity index improvers at all?
Base oil viscosity naturally drops as temperature rises and increases as it cools, but engines need consistent lubrication performance across a wide temperature range from cold start to full operating temperature, and viscosity index improvers are the polymer additives that make an oil behave more consistently across that range than the base oil alone ever could.
What’s the practical difference between polymethacrylates and olefin copolymers?
Each polymer chemistry offers a different balance of shear stability, low-temperature thickening behavior, and cost, and formulators choose between them, or blend multiple types, based on the specific performance profile a given finished lubricant needs to achieve.
How significant is industrial demand relative to automotive demand for this additive category?
Automotive engine oil remains the largest single application given the scale of the global vehicle fleet, but industrial hydraulic fluids and gear oils represent a meaningful and growing secondary demand base as industrial operators increasingly specify wider-temperature-range, extended-service fluids.
Does the trend toward lower-viscosity engine oils affect this additive category?
It does, in a nuanced way — as automakers specify thinner base oils for fuel economy reasons, viscosity index improvers often become even more important for maintaining adequate high-temperature film strength despite the thinner starting point.
How does shear stability matter in choosing a viscosity index improver?
It matters considerably for extended-drain and high-stress applications — some polymer chemistries break down mechanically under the shearing forces present in an operating engine or hydraulic system faster than others, so shear-stable formulations are important wherever a fluid needs to maintain viscosity control over a long service interval.
Which segments are growing fastest?
Olefin copolymer formulations gaining share in certain automotive applications, industrial hydraulic and gear oil applications tied to wider operating temperature requirements, and heavy-duty diesel engine oil applications are all outpacing the category’s overall growth rate.
Key Players
Lubrizol Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.), Infineum International Limited, Evonik Industries AG, Chevron Oronite Company LLC, Afton Chemical Corporation (NewMarket Corporation), BASF SE, LANXESS AG, Croda International Plc, Clariant AG, Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd., Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Total Additifs et Carburants Spéciaux (TotalEnergies SE)
“Viscosity index improvers are a good reminder that not every additive category grows in lockstep with overall lubricant volume — this one is growing meaningfully faster than the broader additives market precisely because the industry keeps pushing toward thinner, more fuel-efficient base oils that depend more heavily on polymer chemistry to deliver adequate high-temperature protection. That dynamic should persist as long as fuel economy and emissions regulation keep favoring lower-viscosity formulations, which makes this one of the more durably growing additive subcategories even within a broader additives market that’s otherwise fairly mature. The suppliers best positioned here are the ones with genuine polymer science depth across multiple chemistries, since no single polymer type wins every application, and blending expertise across PMA, OCP, and other options is where real formulation value gets created.”
Constancy Researchers is a global market intelligence and strategic advisory firm helping organizations navigate complex markets and make high-impact decisions with confidence. In an environment defined by rapid technological change, shifting demand patterns, and evolving competitive dynamics, we provide clarity where it matters most—at the point of decision-making. By combining deep industry understanding, rigorous analytics, and structured thinking, we enable leadership teams to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and build strategies that drive sustainable growth.
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