Market Potential Nine areas were investigated to determine the potential for soybean oil acceptance as a commercial alternative to mineral based oils. Possible soybean market share is an estimate of the realistically possible market penetration once a technically and economically competitive product is developed and introduced. In the case of the large crankcase market, a distinction is made between the large automotive market and the smaller air-cooled engine market. Soy vs. Rapeseed Lubricants made from rapeseed oil are already being used in Europe and have found their way into use in small markets in North America. These advantages and the surrounding political support and infrastructure will make it difficult to replace rapeseed oil in the European lubricant market.
Soybean oil is significantly cheaper in the United States than rapeseed oil.
This economic advantage makes it possible that soybean oil could capture a large share of an emerging U.S. market for biodegradable lubricants if performance can be enhanced to the rapeseed standard. Rapeseed oil, therefore, represents the floor for lubricant performance which soybean oil must meet or exceed. Soybean Oil vs. Synthetics Synthetic oils are a fairly recent development in the lubricants market. They offer improved performance over mineral oil-based lubricants, but at a price. Most of the esters are biodegradable and offer superior thermal and oxidative stability.