cess in Africa. Listening to the customers has helped them offer technology-driven solutions. Boston Moonsamy, former co-founder and CEO of Umongo and current Man- aging Director of Azelis South Africa, explained that customers saw the acqui- sition of Umongo by Azelis as comple- mentary to what they were already offer-
them about counterfeits in order to deal with the issue. Siva Konar gave an overview of the African lubricants market, some of the changes we are witnessing, and the fac- tors driving change. He highlighted that international players still have the lion’s share in the market, but indigenous com- panies are emerging. Over time, there has been a shift from mono-grade to multi-grade lubricants as demand for higher-quality lubricants is rising. There is also a growing increase in demand for Group II base oils. Some factors driving this change are legislative changes, the reduced age of imported vehicles, and economic growth across Africa. Some challenges in the market in- clude a lack of proper regulation for the lubricants industry. Importation of sub- standard goods, shipment challenges, and price differences in different coun- tries are other challenges in the African market. Chris Sacy further reiterated the obstacles in the market and said, “One of the drawbacks we have faced in the African market is that countries vary in culture, and we have adopted different ways of penetrating the market. This has meant we need to be agile and have fit-to- market products and logistics to support each country. The different currencies in the African countries also pose a chal- lenge, but we are adapting our strategy to be able to serve our customers in the market.” However,
opportunities for growth
ing. Azelis filled the gaps in their product offering, and today they can provide cus- tomers a complete suite of products. UNEP’s representative,
Jane Akumu,
discussed how UNEP is working on re- ducing air pollution to promote sustain- ability in Africa. She also talked about the partnership for the Clean Vehicles pro- gram, which supports clean fuels and ve- hicles. She touched on lubricants’ role in reducing air pollution and sustainability. KEBS discussed the standards for lu- bricants. They explained how standards are made and how products are tested. One challenge is that standards are set in place, but implementation is complex. KEBS has a market surveillance direc- torate and relies on the public to inform
MARCH 2024 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE
in the market are still present. Over the next two days, Azelis and its principals demonstrated how they are positioned to meet the needs of the East African lubri- cants market. Speaking about the pros- pects of the L&MWF business in Africa, Siva Konar said, “The L&MWF is an excit- ing and growing segment Azelis is look- ing forward to expanding in the region. We are launching a full range of cost-ef- fective lubricant additives, top-tier base oils, and other complementary chemicals. Our uniqueness is in innovation through formulation and working with our cus- tomers while supporting sustainability initiatives and contributing to the devel- opment of the African continent.” Azelis’s motivation to launch the L&M-
WF segment in the East African market is the opportunity and growing need for high-quality
Managing Director of Azelis Kenya, which lubricants. Chadi Nassar,
We are launching a full range of cost-effective lubricant additives, top-tier base oils, and other complementary chemicals. Our uniqueness is in innovation through formulation and working with our customers while supporting sustainability initiatives and contributing to the development of the African continent.”
serves the East African region, said, “The motivation behind introducing L&MWF in Kenya is the need we see in the market. Kenya is proliferating, and we believe in the market’s trajectory. We are evolving with our clients, the market, and the ma- turity of consumers in East Africa.” Chris Sacy added, “The East African market is quite significant, and apart from Kenya, we hope to expand to other countries in this region and set up local operations to serve those customers better.” Azelis discussed the support that cus-
tomers can expect from them. With access to a laboratory dedicated to the L&MWF segment in Milan, Italy, and op- erating regionally, customers will receive all the support they need. “We assure our customers that they will receive a full range of testing for all lubricant prod- ucts, supporting them and their custom- ers,” said Siva Konar. Chadi Nassar add- ed, “Our potential customers can expect much support from all levels because we are locally and physically present, and we can connect them with our principals or labs.” Boston Moonsamy augmented, “We offer technical services to our customers, and we are well positioned to help them produce high-performance, top-tier lu- bricants.” The supply chain is a big problem in the market; Azelis assures its custom- ers that they do not have to worry about this as Azelis has dedicated teams to
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