Top 10 Companies in the Viscosity Reducer for Crude Oil Market (2026): Market Leaders Enhancing Global Oil Flow

In Business Insights
January 15, 2026


The Global Viscosity Reducer for Crude Oil Market was valued at USD 2.54 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 3.68 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.4% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is primarily driven by the increasing exploitation of heavy and ultra-heavy crude oil reserves, stringent pipeline transportation regulations, and the global push for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques to maximize well output.

As the energy industry adapts to more challenging reservoirs and strives for greater operational efficiency, viscosity reducers have become indispensable. These chemical additives lower the viscosity of thick crude oil, making it easier and more economical to pump, transport, and refine. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Viscosity Reducer for Crude Oil Industry—a group of chemical giants, specialty manufacturers, and energy service leaders who are engineering the solutions that keep the world’s oil flowing.

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Viscosity Reducer for Crude Oil Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🔟 1. Baker Hughes Company

Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Comprehensive portfolio of oilfield chemicals, including specialized viscosity breakers and flow improvers.

Baker Hughes is a global energy technology company with a formidable presence in oilfield services. Its chemical solutions division provides advanced viscosity reducers tailored for challenging production and transportation scenarios, from deepwater operations to long-distance pipelines.

Innovation Focus:

  • Development of high-performance, environmentally compliant formulations

  • Integrated digital solutions for chemical dosage optimization

  • Focus on enhancing chemical efficiency in extreme temperature and pressure conditions


9️⃣ 2. Schlumberger Limited

Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA / Paris, France
Key Offering: MULTICHEM™ portfolio, including a wide range of flow assurance and viscosity control chemicals.

As one of the world’s largest oilfield services companies, Schlumberger offers sophisticated chemical solutions through its Schlumberger Production Management segment. Their viscosity reducers are engineered to address specific challenges like asphaltene deposition and paraffin wax crystallization.

Innovation Focus:

  • Proprietary laboratory testing and modeling for customized solutions

  • Emphasis on reducing total cost of ownership for operators


8️⃣ 3. Halliburton Company

Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
Key Offering: BaraFlow™, BaraClean™, and other production enhancement chemicals.

Halliburton’s Multi-Chem division delivers a full suite of production chemicals designed to improve flow and maximize asset value. Their viscosity reducers are critical for maintaining pipeline efficiency and preventing costly shut-ins due to flow assurance issues.

Innovation Focus:

  • Integrated chemical services for complete flow assurance

  • Development of low-dosage, high-efficiency inhibitors and reducers

Download FREE Sample Report:
Viscosity Reducer for Crude Oil Market – View in Detailed Research Report


7️⃣ 4. Dow Chemical Company

Headquarters: Midland, Michigan, USA
Key Offering: Specialty surfactants and polymers for oil and gas applications.

Dow leverages its deep expertise in material science to create advanced chemical solutions for the energy sector. Their products include high-performance surfactants that act as effective viscosity reducers by altering the interfacial properties of crude oil components.

Innovation Focus:

  • Sustainable chemistry initiatives for greener oilfield additives

  • Research into novel polymer chemistries for heavy oil recovery


6️⃣ 5. Clariant AG

Headquarters: Muttenz, Switzerland
Key Offering: Specialty chemicals for oil and gas, including HOSTACOR® and HOSTAREV® flow improvers.

Clariant’s Oil and Gas Services business provides high-value additive technologies that improve the production and transport of crude oil. Their products are known for their effectiveness in mitigating flow assurance problems in some of the world’s most challenging oilfields.

Innovation Focus:

  • Tailored solutions for specific crude oil chemistries

  • Focus on eco-friendly and biodegradable chemical options


5️⃣ 6. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Comprehensive range of oilfield chemicals under the BASAK, BASAZUR, and LUTROPUR brands.

BASF is a leading chemical supplier to the oil and gas industry, offering innovative solutions for exploration, production, and transportation. Their viscosity reducers help operators manage heavy crudes and enhance pipeline throughput efficiency.

Innovation Focus:

  • Development of multifunctional additives that reduce viscosity while inhibiting corrosion or scale

  • Investment in R&D for enhanced oil recovery applications


4️⃣ 7. Nalco Champion (An Ecolab Company)

Headquarters: Sugar Land, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Broad spectrum of production chemicals, including drag reducers and asphaltene dispersants.

Nalco Champion, part of Ecolab, is a global leader in water, hygiene, and energy technologies. Its production chemical solutions are critical for flow assurance, helping to reduce viscosity, prevent emulsions, and minimize deposition in pipelines and downhole equipment.

Innovation Focus:

  • Integration of real-time monitoring and control for chemical injection

  • Sustainability-driven product development


3️⃣ 8. Croda International Plc

Headquarters: Snaith, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Specialty surfactants and additives for oil and gas.

Croda utilizes its surface-active technology to create effective viscosity modifiers for the energy sector. Their products are designed to improve the flow properties of crude oil, particularly in cold climates or for heavy crude varieties.

Innovation Focus:

  • Focus on bio-based and renewable raw materials

  • Development of high-performance chemicals for extreme environments

Download FREE Sample Report:
Viscosity Reducer for Crude Oil Market – View in Detailed Research Report


2️⃣ 9. CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation)

Headquarters: Beijing, China
Key Offering: Petrochemical products and oilfield chemicals for domestic and international operations.

As one of the largest integrated energy companies globally, CNPC has a substantial in-house requirement for viscosity reducers for its vast upstream and midstream operations. It also supplies these chemicals to other operators, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.

Innovation Focus:

  • R&D focused on chemicals for specific Chinese crude blends like those from Dagang and Liaohe oilfields

  • Expansion of chemical production capacity to support Belt and Road infrastructure projects


1️⃣ 10. Arkema Group

Headquarters: Colombes, France
Key Offering: High-performance polymers and specialty chemicals for energy applications.

Arkema develops advanced materials that serve various industrial sectors, including oil and gas. Their expertise in acrylic acids and fluorochemicals contributes to the creation of effective additives for improving crude oil flow properties.

Innovation Focus:

  • Innovation in polymer-based flow improvers

  • Commitment to sustainable development in its product lines

Get Full Report Here:
Viscosity Reducer for Crude Oil Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Viscosity Reduction Is Smarter and More Sustainable

The viscosity reducer market is evolving beyond basic chemical additives. The future lies in intelligent, data-driven solutions that optimize dosage in real-time, bio-based formulations with lower environmental impact, and chemicals tailored for the specific challenges of enhanced oil recovery and unconventional resources.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Rising demand from mature fields requiring EOR techniques

  • Increasing pipeline infrastructure projects in emerging economies

  • Development of multifunctional chemicals that address multiple flow assurance issues simultaneously

  • Growing regulatory emphasis on the environmental profile of oilfield chemicals

Get Full Report Here:
Viscosity Reducer for Crude Oil Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies profiled are not just supplying chemicals; they are providing the essential technological edge needed to unlock the world’s most challenging hydrocarbon resources and ensure their efficient journey to market.