Nandan Petrochem Highlights DEF Leadership, Specialty Lubricants, and Scaled Manufacturing Capabilities
A key highlight was Nandan Petrochem’s leadership in DEF, also known as AdBlue. The company commands an estimated 40% share of the Indian DEF market, far ahead of competitors. DEF, a sustainability-driven product aligned with emission regulations, is witnessing rapid growth as diesel engines continue to dominate commercial transportation. Consumption volumes are significantly higher than lubricants; while a heavy truck consumes around 120 litres of lubricant annually, DEF usage can reach 500–700 litres per truck per year. To support this scale, Nandan Petrochem operates 25 DEF manufacturing plants across India, giving it unmatched reach and logistics efficiency.
In lubricants, the company manufactures a wide range of specialty products catering to automotive, industrial and infrastructure applications. Its core strength lies not in developing radically new formulations, but in blending base oils and additives precisely, maintaining consistent quality, and delivering products at the right cost.
Over the past decade, Nandan Petrochem has significantly strengthened its branded business through Velvex, which today sells close to 15 million litres annually and ranks among the top ten lubricant brands in India. The company’s business is now evenly split between white-label manufacturing for OEMs and branded products for the aftermarket. While OEM business is driven by strict specifications, compliance and pricing, aftermarket success depends on product performance, brand strength and distribution depth.
The company is modernising its largest plant with substantial investments in automation and SCADA-based systems. As engine technologies become more complex, lubricant manufacturing demands tighter tolerances and traceability. Automation enables real-time monitoring, precision control and consistency, while robotic filling and cartonising improve efficiency and reduce variability.
Said Gupta, “India’s lubricant market is highly cost-conscious, with customers seeking equivalent quality at competitive prices. Nandan Petrochem positions itself as cost-competitive rather than the cheapest, focusing on efficiency across the value chain through smart sourcing, lean supply chains and scale. We follow a balanced raw material strategy, sourcing both imported base oils and additives as well as supplies from Indian PSUs.”
On the marketing side, the company operates two distinct models. In the OEM-led B2B model, it manufactures to exact specifications and earns a manufacturer’s margin. In the brand-led model, Velvex allows the company to capture both manufacturing and marketing margins. Distribution plays a critical role, with supplies routed through dealers as well as direct to large fleet operators, including in remote regions.
“Looking ahead, we see steady growth opportunities aligned with India’s 6–7% economic expansion, which will drive lubricant and DEF demand over the next decade. Export prospects exist in Africa and other regions, although local manufacturing is often required to overcome import duties. With scale, automation and a strong product portfolio, we expect to grow faster than the industry while remaining aligned with evolving emission norms and sustainability expectations,” stated Gupta.
Published on:
13 January 2026
Published in: NBM&CW JANUARY 2026
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