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Thechemical industry of India is a major industry in theIndian 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 inAsia, 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, thealkali chemical industry produced 71% of all chemicals produced in India.[5] India's chemical industry accounts about 14% of production in Indian industries.[6]
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 topetrochemicals,fertilizers,paints,varnishes,glass,perfumes,toiletries,pharmaceuticals, etc.
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]
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 ofpaints,adhesives,pharmaceuticals,dyestuffs andintermediates, leather chemicals,pesticides, etc.Methanol,acetic acid,formaldehyde,pyridine,phenol,alkylamines,ethyl acetate, andacetic anhydride are major basic organic chemicals that are produced in India. Six major chemicals are produced in India:methanol,aniline,alkylamines, and its derivativesformaldehyde,acetic acid, andphenol 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:
In India,chlor-alkali the sector mainly consists of the production of threeinorganic chemicals;caustic soda (NaOH),chlorine (Cl
2) andsoda 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 anddetergents,pulp andpaper,textiles,aluminium processing industry forcaustic soda and forsoda ash inglass,silicate production etc apart fromsoaps anddetergents.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 aresoda ash,caustic soda, and liquidchlorine.[12]Tata Chemicals, a diversified Indian chemicals company, is also the world's third largest manufacturer of soda ash.[13]
As of December 2021, thespeciality 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:
