Chemical industry in India

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The chemical industry of India is a major industry in the Indian economy and as of 2022, contributes 7% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). [1] India is the world's sixth largest producer of chemicals and the third largest in Asia, as of 2022. [2] The value of the Indian chemical industry was estimated at $100 billion dollars in 2019. [3] The chemical industry of India generates employment for five million people. [4] The Indian chemical industry produces 80,000 different chemical products. India was also the third largest producer of plastic in 2019. As of September 2019, the alkali chemical industry produced 71% of all chemicals produced in India. [5] India's chemical industry accounts about 14% of production in Indian industries. [6]

Contents

Introduction

The Indian chemical industry mainly produces basic types of chemicals as well as knowledge type chemicals and specialty type chemicals as of 2018. [7] In India, Gujarat was the largest state contributor to the chemical industry of India in 2018. [8] India also produces products related to petrochemicals, fertilizers, paints, varnishes, glass, perfumes, toiletries, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Production

The chemicals industry in India is very diversified and can essentially be classified into 6 categories: bulk chemicals, specialty chemicals, agrochemicals, petrochemicals, polymers and fertilisers. [9]

Basic organic chemicals

The organic chemicals industry is one of the most significant sectors of the chemical industry in the world. It plays a vital role in providing inputs for other industries of paints, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, dyestuffs and intermediates, leather chemicals, pesticides, etc. Methanol, acetic acid, formaldehyde, pyridine, phenol, alkylamines, ethyl acetate, and acetic anhydride are major basic organic chemicals that are produced in India. Six major chemicals are produced in India: methanol, aniline, alkylamines, and its derivatives formaldehyde, acetic acid, and phenol contributing to nearly 2/3 of Indian basic organic chemical industry. The country has several basic organic chemical companies that are among the largest companies globally in their chemical productions. These companies include:

Inorganic chemicals

Chlor-alkali chemicals

In India, chlor-alkali the sector mainly consists of the production of three inorganic chemicals; caustic soda (NaOH), chlorine (Cl
2) and soda ash (Na
2CO
3). [11] Hydrogen is also produced in this industry in small amounts. The chlor-alkali industry inputs are mainly used in soaps and detergents, pulp and paper, textiles, aluminium processing industry for caustic soda and for soda ash in glass, silicate production etc apart from soaps and detergents. In the financial year 2019–2020 of chlor-alkali industry of India over four million metric tons of alkali chemicals were produced. The products that are produced in this industry are soda ash, caustic soda, and liquid chlorine. [12] Tata Chemicals, a diversified Indian chemicals company, is also the world's third largest manufacturer of soda ash. [13]

Speciality chemicals

As of December 2021, the speciality chemicals segment comprised 22% of India's overall chemicals market. [14] In 2019, India's share of the global speciality chemicals market stood at 4%, however India's market share is projected to stand at 5.5% by 2025. [14] India has several niche specialty chemical companies that are among the largest companies globally in their specific niche sectors. These companies include:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodium hydroxide</span> Chemical compound with formula NaOH

Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH. It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations Na+ and hydroxide anions OH−.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chemical industry</span> Industry (branch), which is engaged in the manufacturing of chemical products

The chemical industry comprises the companies and other organizations that develop and produce industrial, specialty and other chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into commodity chemicals for industrial and consumer products. It includes industries for petrochemicals such as polymers for plastics and synthetic fibers; inorganic chemicals such as acids and alkalis; agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides; and other categories such as industrial gases, speciality chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodium carbonate</span> Chemical compound

Sodium carbonate is the inorganic compound with the formula Na2CO3 and its various hydrates. All forms are white, odourless, water-soluble salts that yield alkaline solutions in water. Historically, it was extracted from the ashes of plants grown in sodium-rich soils, and because the ashes of these sodium-rich plants were noticeably different from ashes of wood, sodium carbonate became known as "soda ash". It is produced in large quantities from sodium chloride and limestone by the Solvay process, as well as by carbonating sodium hydroxide which is made using the Chlor-alkali process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calcium hydroxide</span> Inorganic compound of formula Ca(OH)2

Calcium hydroxide (traditionally called slaked lime) is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca(OH)2. It is a colorless crystal or white powder and is produced when quicklime (calcium oxide) is mixed with water. It has many names including hydrated lime, caustic lime, builders' lime, slaked lime, cal, and pickling lime. Calcium hydroxide is used in many applications, including food preparation, where it has been identified as E number E526. Limewater, also called milk of lime, is the common name for a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide.

The Leblanc process was an early industrial process for making soda ash used throughout the 19th century, named after its inventor, Nicolas Leblanc. It involved two stages: making sodium sulfate from sodium chloride, followed by reacting the sodium sulfate with coal and calcium carbonate to make sodium carbonate. The process gradually became obsolete after the development of the Solvay process.

The Solvay process or ammonia-soda process is the major industrial process for the production of sodium carbonate (soda ash, Na2CO3). The ammonia-soda process was developed into its modern form by the Belgian chemist Ernest Solvay during the 1860s. The ingredients for this are readily available and inexpensive: salt brine (from inland sources or from the sea) and limestone (from quarries). The worldwide production of soda ash in 2005 was estimated at 42 million tonnes, which is more than six kilograms (13 lb) per year for each person on Earth. Solvay-based chemical plants now produce roughly three-quarters of this supply, with the remaining being mined from natural deposits. This method superseded the Leblanc process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barium carbonate</span> Chemical compound

Barium carbonate is the inorganic compound with the formula BaCO3. Like most alkaline earth metal carbonates, it is a white salt that is poorly soluble in water. It occurs as the mineral known as witherite. In a commercial sense, it is one of the most important barium compounds.

The chloralkali process is an industrial process for the electrolysis of sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions. It is the technology used to produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide, which are commodity chemicals required by industry. Thirty five million tons of chlorine were prepared by this process in 1987. The chlorine and sodium hydroxide produced in this process are widely used in the chemical industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tosoh</span>


Tosoh Corporation is a global chemical and specialty materials company. The company was founded in 1935 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, as Toyo Soda Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and in 1987 changed its name to Tosoh Corporation. Today, its corporate headquarters are in Tokyo, Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aditya Birla Group</span> Indian multinational conglomerate

The Aditya Birla Group (ABG) is an Indian multinational Fortune 500 company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The group has a presence in 36 nations. As of March 2023, the company's revenue is worth $65 billion and derives over 50% of its revenue from its global operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olin Corporation</span> American chemical manufacturing company

Olin Corporation is an American manufacturer of ammunition, chlorine, and sodium hydroxide. The company traces its roots to two companies, both founded in 1892: Franklin W. Olin's Equitable Powder Company and the Mathieson Alkali Works. Accidents at Olin chemical plants have exposed employees and nearby residents to health hazards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tata Chemicals</span> Indian company

Tata Chemicals Limited is an Indian multinational corporation with interests in chemicals, crop protection and specialty chemistry products. The company is headquartered in Mumbai and has operations across India, Europe, North America and Africa. Tata Chemicals is a part of the Tata Group and its shares are traded on the NSE and BSE. Tata Chemicals has a publicly listed subsidiary called Rallis India.

Tata Chemicals Europe is a UK-based chemicals company that is a subsidiary of Tata Chemicals Limited, itself a part of the India-based Tata Group. Its principal products are soda ash, sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride and associated alkaline chemicals.

The World Chlorine Council (WCC) is an international network of national and regional trade associations representing the chlorine and chlorinated products industries in more than 27 countries. Members include chloralkali process associations such as Euro Chlor, Japan Soda Industry Association, Alkali Manufacturers' Association of India, and RusChlor. Members from the product sector include five vinyl producer associations, and the Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SP Chemicals</span>

SP Chemicals, a Singapore-based company, is one of the largest ion-membrane chlor-alkali producer and aniline producer in the PRC. It was listed on the Main Board of SGX-ST on 6 August 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Engro Corporation</span> Publicly listed conglomerate in Pakistan

Engro Corporation (Engro) is a Pakistani conglomerate headquartered in Karachi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ANSAC</span> American corporation

American Natural Soda Ash Corporation (ANSAC) operates as the international distribution arm for three US manufacturers of natural soda ash produced from trona deposits in Green River, Wyoming, the trade name for sodium carbonate Na2CO3, is an essential raw material used in the manufacture of glass, detergents, and several sodium-based chemicals.

Tokuyama Corporation is a Japanese, Tokyo-based chemical company and the world's fourth largest silicon manufacturer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axiall</span> Manufacturer and marketer of chlorovinyls and aromatics

The Axiall Corporation is a manufacturer and marketer of chlorovinyls and aromatics. With the acquisition of Royal Group Technologies the company is now also a major producer of building materials ranging from piping and siding to window profiles, decking, and fencing.

Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) is an Indian chemical substance manufacturing company, promoted by the Government of Gujarat. Its manufacturing facilities are located at Dahej and Vadodara in Gujarat. The company manufactures chemicals such as caustic soda, sodium cyanide, chloromethanes, sodium ferrocyanide, caustic potash, potassium carbonate, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid (85%) and hydrogen peroxide.

References

  1. ↑ Awasthi, Anurag (6 September 2022). "In the global semiconductor race, India's chip manufacturing needs to get the 'chemistry' right". The Economic Times. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  2. ↑ "Exports of Indian chemicals register growth of 106% in 2021-22 over 2013-14". pib.gov.in. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "Topic: Chemical industry in India". Statista. Archived from the original on 26 May 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "Sectors". www.cii.in. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Chemical Industry in India – Indian Chemical Sector Analysis". www.investindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  6. ↑ PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Chemicals". PwC. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "India - chemical market share by type 2018". Statista. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "India - chemical industry share by state 2018". Statista. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Chemical Industry, Chemicals Manufacturers and Exporters in India - IBEF". India Brand Equity Foundation. May 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  10. ↑ Karim, Abdul (30 December 2019). "Pick of the week: Balaji Amines Ltd" (PDF). HDFC Securities. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "Indian Chlor Alkali Market Size, Share, Trends and Industry Analysis". Orion Market Research.
  12. ↑ "India - alkali chemicals production volume 2020". Statista.</text>
  13. ↑ Yadavalli, Sai Prabhakar (19 February 2022). "Why you should accumulate Tata Chemicals stock". Business Line. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  14. 1 2 Sharma, Gaurav (20 December 2021). "India's chemical industry will continue on growth path, says JM Financial". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  15. ↑ Green, Elizabeth (12 July 2017). "Camlin Fine Sciences Becomes World's Third-Largest Vanillin Producer". .foodingredientsfirst.com/. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  16. ↑ Shah, Mitesh; Shah, Dhavan; Khandekar, Siddhant (6 July 2021). "Clean Science and Technology Ltd" (PDF). ICICI Direct. p. 4. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  17. ↑ Shah, Mitesh; Shah, Dhavan; Khandekar, Siddhant (15 July 2021). "Tatva Chintan Pharma Chem Ltd" (PDF). ICICI Direct. p. 7. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
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