India’s chemicals industry is de-licensed, except for a few hazardous chemicals. In the Indian chemical industry, alkali chemicals have the largest share with ~73.3% of the total production from April to March (2022-23). India is the 6th largest producer of chemicals in the world and 3rd in Asia, contributing 7% to India’s GDP. The Indian chemical industry is currently valued at US$ 220 billion and is expected to reach US$ 300 billion by 2030 and US$ 1 trillion by 2040. This industry remains an active hub of opportunities, even in an environment of global uncertainty.
India holds a strong position in exports and imports of chemicals at a global level and ranks 14th in exports and 8th in imports at the global level (excluding pharmaceuticals). The chemicals industry in India covers more than 80,000 commercial products with an overall market size standing at US$ 232.6 billion in 2021-22. The speciality chemicals sector is expected to reach US$ 64 billion by 2025. India has traditionally been a world leader in generics and biosimilars and a major vaccine manufacturer, contributing more than 50% of the global vaccine supply. Chemicals and petrochemicals demand in India is expected to nearly triple and reach US$ 1 trillion by 2040.
The Indian chemical industry is expected to further grow with a CAGR of 11-12% by 2027, increasing India’s share in the global specialty chemicals market to 4% from 3%. According to a CRISIL report, the speciality chemicals market in India would grow faster than China, increasing its market share to 6% by 2026 from 3-4% in fiscal 2021. The report further states that a shift in the global supply chain brought on by the China+1 strategy and a resurgence in domestic end-user demand will fuel significant revenue growth. India has traditionally been a world leader in generics and biosimilars and a major vaccine manufacturer, contributing more than 50% of the global vaccine supply.
From April 2024 to September 2024, exports of organic chemicals stood at US$ 3.99 billion & inorganic stood at US$ 1.09 billion. Imports of organic chemicals were US$ 8.56 billion and inorganic chemicals US$ 3.17 billion from April 2024 to September 2024.
From April 2024 to September 2024, exports of castor oil, essential oil, and cosmetics and toiletries stood at US$ 2.12 billion.
Major chemical production reached 978.08 million metric tonnes (MMT) in August 2024, while petrochemical production reached 1,889.78 MMT. In May 2024, production levels of various chemicals were as follows: Soda Ash: 264.49 MMT, Caustic Soda: 313.23 MMT, Liquid Chlorine: 211.38 MMT, Formaldehyde: 29.54 MMT, Pesticides and Insecticides: 24 MMT.
Insecticides share 53% of the total domestic agrochemicals market, followed by Herbicides. Agrochemicals are the key revenue component of India, which exports 50% of its total production. Petrochemicals consumption stood at 22 million tonnes in 2019-20, out of which 16.5 million tonnes were polymer products. India’s agrochemicals export was estimated to be at US$ 3.12 billion from April 2023-December 2023.
From April-September 2024, the export of agrochemicals was US$ 2.09 billion, dyes were US$ 1.18 billion and the other dye intermediates were US$ 75.69 million.
Despite decreasing demand for polymers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, India is likely to witness growth to ~32 million tonnes from 2020 to 2030.
India is a global supplier of dye, accounting for ~16% of the global production of dyestuffs and dye intermediaries. India has a strong presence in the global market exporting to more than 90 countries in the subsegment of dyes, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. From April 2023 to March 2024, India's dye exports (Dyes and Dye Intermediates) totalled US$ 2.32 billion. The country exports dyes to Germany, the UK, the US, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, Singapore, and Japan. The Indian dyes and pigments market is projected to reach US$ 63.0 billion by 2022.
The domestic chemicals sector's small and medium enterprises are expected to showcase 18-23% revenue growth in FY22, owing to an improvement in domestic demand and higher realisation due to high prices of chemicals. Domestic demand is expected to rise from US$ 170-180 billion in 2021 to US$ 850-US$ 1,000 billion by 2040. Gross bank credit for Chemicals and Chemical products grew by 1% in March 2024 as compared to the previous month.
Supply disruption in China has caused the global end-user industries to diversify their vendor base mainly towards Indian players. The closure of plants in the EU and China due to increasing environmental concerns has favoured Indian manufacturers to invest further in speciality chemicals. From April 2023 to December 2023, exports of organic chemicals decreased 23.8% YoY, while exports of inorganic chemicals increased 18.18% YoY.
In the chemical sector, industrial licensing and 100% FDI, under the automatic route, are allowed with the exception to a few hazardous chemicals. FDI inflows in the chemicals sector (other than fertilizers) reached US$ 22.70 billion between April 2000-June 2024.
Indian companies are witnessing interest from strategic investors led by Japan, Korea and Thailand, as they seek to diversify supply chains from China.
The government to open 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras to make medicines available at affordable prices.
In Bina, Madhya Pradesh, the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, laid the foundation stone of development projects worth more than Rs. 50,700 crore (US$ 6.11 billion) on September 14, 2023. The refineries will produce about 1,200 Kilo-Tonnes Per Annum (KTPA) of ethylene and propylene, vital components for various sectors like textiles, packaging, and pharma, among others.
In August 2023, the Prime Minister announced a subsidy of Rs. 10 lakh crore (US$ 120.93 billion) for providing cheaper Urea to farmers.
In July 2023, Global Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs in India (GCPMH 2023) was organized in Delhi, India.
In June 2023, Himadri Speciality Chemical invested Rs. 58 crore (US$ 7.01 million) in Sicona Battery Technologies Pty Ltd, (Sydney) for a 12.79% stake.
In June 2023, Mumbai-based UPL Ltd will hive off its speciality chemicals business on a slump sale basis to a wholly-owned arm of UPL Speciality Chemicals Ltd for Rs. 3,572 crore (US$ 431.96 million).
In June 2023, Reliance plans to invest Rs. 75,000 crore (US$ 9.06 billion) over 5 years to expand its oil to chemical business.
Tata Chemicals intends to invest about Rs. 8,000 crore (US$ 967.45 million) over the next 2-3 years as capex on an expansion spree that includes scaling businesses sustainably.
In May 2023, Reliance Industries plans to set up a 10 GW solar project in Andhra Pradesh.
In April 2023, the Cabinet approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023.
In March 2023, Chennai awaits more bio-CNG plants to enable the switch to clean energy.
On February 15th, 2023, the Indian Speciality Chemical Manufacturer’ Association (ISCMA) signed an MoU with USIIC to promote trade in speciality chemicals.
In February 2023, the company is setting up a new formaldehyde plant with 300 TPD capacity at the existing manufacturing facility at GIDC, Ankleshwar in Gujarat.
In January 2023, Tata Chemicals Europe signed a pact with Essar-backed Vertex for the sale of low-carbon hydrogen.
In December 20222, GMM Pfaudler Ltd entered into an agreement on December 8, 2022, to acquire Mixel France SAS and its wholly owned subsidiary Mixel Agitator Co. Ltd. For US$ 7.63 million.
In September 2022, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and CSIR work together to support chemistry in schools across India.
In September 2022, Spanish perfume maker Puig acquired a controlling stake in Kama Ayurveda Pvt. Owning 85% of the company.
In May 2022, a global investment firm, PAG acquired Optimus Group along with consortium partners CX Partners and Samara Capital.
In April 2022, Dorf Ketal, a manufacturer of research-based specialized chemicals acquired Khyati Chemicals for Rs. 300-400 crore (US$ 36.28 – 48.48 million).
Advent International acquired a majority position in Avra Labs in January 2022, uniting it with two other businesses it had previously acquired, RA Chem Pharma and ZCL Chemicals.
This includes large deals in FY20—KKR’s US$ 414 million acquisition of JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Carlyle’s US$ 210 million acquisition of SeQuent Scientific Ltd.
The Indian Government supports the Industry through research & development and initiatives such as reducing basic customs duty on several imported products and promoting the ‘Make in India’ campaign.
A 2034 vision for the chemicals and petrochemicals sector has been set up by the government to explore opportunities to improve domestic production, reduce imports and attract investments in the sector. The government plans to implement a production-link incentive system with 10-20% output incentives for the agrochemical sector; to create an end-to-end manufacturing ecosystem through the growth of clusters.
Lower per capita consumption and ease of doing business are promoted by the Indian government; this reflects good investment opportunities with huge growth potential.
The government has established four petroleum, chemicals and petrochemical investment regions (PCPIRs) as investment regions for petroleum, chemicals and petrochemicals, along with associated services. Plastic parks have been set up to facilitate technology development and a conducive ecosystem to produce specialised plastic products. The Gujarat Infrastructure Development Corporation (GIDC) has made an investment of around Rs. 17,317 crore (US$ 2.09 billion) for infrastructure development in the PCPIR.
The Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals intend to bring PLI into the chemical & petrochemical sector and will redraft the Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) guidelines.
The government is planning to hold roadshows in eight overseas markets for the proposed investors’ summit planned in January 2022, with a focus on the petrochemicals sector, and is eager to attract investors to its newly launched Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) near the upcoming crude oil refinery in Pachpadra village (in Barmer district, Rajasthan).
In November 2021, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) announced plans to invest Rs. 3,681 crore (US$ 495.22 million) to set up India’s first mega-scale maleic anhydride unit for manufacturing high-value speciality chemicals at its Panipat Refinery in Haryana.
In September 2021, Dorf Ketal Chemicals India Pvt. Ltd., a company headquartered in Mumbai, India; and TriBonds Chemical Co., based in Dammam, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, announced a joint venture (JV) to manufacture water specialty chemicals for applications in the Middle East refining and petrochemical industry. The JV will focus on meeting the energy and water management and processing needs of refineries, petrochemicals, fuel additives, plastics, lubricants, oil field chemicals, catalysts and adsorbents.
In June 2021, the Rubber Skill Development Council (RSDC) announced that it is expanding its vertical to cover the chemicals and petrochemicals sectors and will be now known by the name Rubber, Chemical, Petrochemical Skill Development Council (RCPSDC). The council will implement skill training programmes in chemicals and petrochemicals verticals for the youth across the country.
Under the Interim Budget 2024-25 the government allocated Rs. 192.21 crore (US$ 23.13 million) to the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. PLI schemes have been introduced to promote Bulk Drug Parks, with a budget of Rs. 1,629 crore (US$ 213.81 million).
