Dry "lubricants" are used in several situatuions.....
Talcum powder when getting a wet suit on...Graphite in dusty environments.....
Some oil based lubricants cause the nylonlining of thecableto swell,gripping the cable &doing the opposite ofwhat youwant.
Most cables these dayswere PTFE lined I thought, thus negating the need for lubrication.