But many of us do not have any idea about the engine oil that is being used in our vehicle. Since most of the companies like Honda, Hero Honda, Bajaj, Tata and Yamaha use their own engine oils, people most of the times have no idea about choosing engine oil for their vehicles. Hero Honda and Honda bikes use engine oil named Honda itself. [break]
Similarly, Tata vehicles in Nepal use Servo brand of lubricants as per the recommendation of Sipradi Trading - the authorized distributor of Tata vehicles in Nepal. Yamaha also has its own engine oil under the same brand.
Looking at the trend, the market of engine oil in two-wheeler segment is smaller than the market of engine oil for four-wheelers. According to traders, the market of engine oil is highest in the commercial vehicles segment where engine oil is changed more frequently and about 15 to 18 liters of engine oil is changed at a time.
Nepal Overseas Trading Concern, the sole and authorized distributor of Castrol engine oil in Nepal, has been distributing its products through about 25 sub-dealers throughout the country.
“When it comes to quality and performance, there are some lubricants that we can term our competitors. But when it comes to the sales volume and the market occupied, no other companies are near to us,” said Amar Jyoti Ranjit, the marketing manager of Nepal Overseas Trading Concern, told myrepublica.com.
He further that Nepali lubricants are seen more in the market than the imported products due to the price factor.
Nepal Overseas Trading Concern deals with an impressive range of Castrol products brought from the UAE. Three among them are very popular in the market. Castrol Active is one of the most sought after lubricants for two-wheelers, while Castrol GTX is very popular for light vehicles. Simiarly, Castrol RX is made for heavy vehicles.
Mali Oil Stores under Topsell Trading is another dealer that probably commands second place in Nepal´s lubricants market. Topsell Trading is presently selling products from Duckhams, BP and Himali Chiso - a Nepali brand. Duckhams and BP brand of lubricants by UK-based BP is doing well in the market, according to the company.
Topsell has introduced a new Nepali lubricant brand named Himali Chiso that is manufactured in Singapore.
“The market of Himali Chiso brand of lubricants is better than expected. Though we launched the brand recently, its sale is doing great,” said Hikmat Bahadur Mali, chairman of Topsell Trading.
The increasing popularity of Nepali lubricants is also due to the price factor as they are relatively cheaper than the imported ones.
Almost all the lubricants dealers have different targeted groups and are doing well in their sector. But they complain that the lubricant market is yet to be a free market as auto dealers are recommending or forcing the customers to use the lubricants of a particular company.
Castrol Active
Rs 480
Capacity: 1 liter
Castrol GTX
Rs 2,025
Capacity: 4 liters
Castrol RX
Rs 7,300
Capacity: 15 liters
Visco 3000
Rs 2,155
Capacity: 4 liters
Duckhams Q
Rs 2,100
Capacity: 4 liters
Duckhams Q Plus
Rs 2,025
Capacity: 4 liters
Himali Chiso
Rs 1,580
Capacity: 4 liters
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