Global grease output increased 13% in 2010 and returned to the same levels as 2007 according the National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI).
The latest NLGI report showed total production around the world returned to the same levels as three years previously at 2.3bn pounds, with China contributing 897m pounds of product - 39% of the world's output last year.
With North America and Japan also increasing production, the overall volume improved by 13% on 2009, although Europe showed a slight fall and, according to NLGI's Paul Grives as reported by Lubes Report, in terms of grease production "the rest of the world was essentially flat."
According to Grives, polyurea was the fastest growing thickener, up 32%, at 118m pounds, although lithium and lithium complex greases continue to dominate the market, with calcium thickened greases next on the charts. Anhydrous calcium grease production also lifted significantly, particularly in China where it increased by more than 100%. Virtually none of China's output used bio-stocks, as opposed to Europe which produced around 3% of boigreases from its total output.