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A Broader Outlook on Indian Chemical Industry

Today, India has achieved considerable progress in production of basic organic and inorganic chemicals, pesticides, paints, dyestuffs and intermediates, petrochemicals, fine and specialty chemicals and toiletry product segments. And with slash in tariffs, Indian chemical companies with well-built systems and structured operations are likely to be benefited further.

Author: Jayeshmodi
Date: Dec 16, 2009 - 3:47:26 PM

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India has achieved considerable progress in production of chemicals. And with slash in tariffs, Indian chemical companies with well-built systems and structured operations are likely to be benefited further.

                    

It is not only country’s oldest industry, but the Indian Chemical Industry has been contributing to India’s growing economy in a phenomenal way. It may be hard to believe, but the industry serves the basic need of many different industry verticals like natural gas, water, oil, metals, minerals, air, oil, etc and all these verticals eventually bring into marketplace an array of products, almost 70000 products, to be precise.

 

Today, India has achieved considerable progress in production of basic organic and inorganic chemicals, pesticides, paints, dyestuffs and intermediates, petrochemicals, fine and specialty chemicals and toiletry product segments. And with slash in tariffs, Indian chemical companies with well-built systems and structured operations are likely to be benefited further. The companies manufacturing highly valued chemicals, and who are compliant of industrial quality standards, can make their mark not just in India but even in the overseas markets as well.

 

In Indian context, the rise in disposable income has led to improved chemical consumption. This has aided country’s GDP climb further, from 9% to 13%. In an attempt to make the industry more progressive and flourishing, the government of India has introduced a slew of policies and special economic zones centering on the petrochemical sector. Furthermore, several manufacturing companies are focusing on expansion plans in the coming years.

 

Chemicals and chemical products influence our lives in a significant way. Be it donning synthetic clothes, or consuming drugs, or when it comes to using thermoplastic furniture at homes and offices, chemicals have become a way of life in this fast-changing world. In addition, the industry plays a pivotal role in agricultural and development sectors. Some of the other sectors, like engineering, automotive, consumer durables and food processing also depend on this sector in a big way.

 

The industry is on a high growth trajectory. The industry, through a series of efforts is expected to achieve USD 100 billion in the upcoming years. The industry’s contribution to the Indian manufacturing sector is almost 17.6 percent. Since the ages, Indian chemicals have been traded and today imports stand at USD 7.92 billion and exports at 5.95 billion. And now with the onset of liberalization and globalization, the Industry is on a major expansion spree. The industry today is into manufacturing wide range of goods including fine and specialty chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, dyes and pigments, agrochemicals and fertilizers, pesticides, plastics and petrochemicals etc.

 

However, Indian chemical industry is yet to makes its presence felt in a big way in the international markets.

 

Fast-facts on Indian chemical industry

 

• Highly fragmented

 

• Operates at the micro level.

 

• Increased per capita consumption level has put the industry on fast-track

 

• Higher cost of capital, import duties and power, making it less competitive in the international markets.

 

• Very little spotlight on Resource & Development

 

• Presence of many multinational companies

 

• Big players in bulk chemicals. Presence of small and big players in fine and specialty chemicals.

 

Major Segments

 

The Indian Chemical Industry has following major segments:

 

* Petrochemicals

 

* Inorganic Chemicals

 

* Organic Chemicals

 

* Fine and specialties

 

* Bulk Drugs

 

* Agrochemicals

 

* Paints and Dyes

 

Petrochemicals

 

Petrochemicals form the biggest category in the chemicals, and it is also one of the fastest growing sectors. The segement is into producing basic chemicals like Ethylene, Propylene, Benzene and Xylene etc, intermediates like MEG, PAN and LAB etc., synthetic fibres like Nylon, PSF and PFY etc, polymers like LDPE/HDPE, PVC, Polyester and PET etc, synthetic rubber like SBR, PBR etc. The key players include: Reliance, IPCL, NOCIL, Haldia and GAIL etc.

 

Inorganic Chemicals

 

At present it is worth US$ 2.5 Billion industry. The segment concentrates on the production of caustic, chlorine, sulphuric Acid etc. The inorganic chemicals are commonly used in detergents, glass, soap, fertiliser, alkalies etc. However, the industry is encountering stiff competition from international players, when it comes to catering to the requirements of the local markets.

 

Organic Chemicals

 

It is reportedly 1billion dollar industry and includes an array of chemicals. Most of the companies manufacturing organic chemicals can be found in western India.

 

Fine Specialties

 

The fine specialties segment is highly fragmented, with sizeable number of big players. However, all these players operate on low volume and high price margin. It is one of the fastest growing sectors with market around US$80 million p.a. And many big and small Indian companies form part of it. The major end user segments include: Textile, Leather, paper, detergent, rubber, paints, polyester, oil and gas etc.

 

Bulk Drugs

 

Bulk Drugs have a large market in India and in the outside world. Out of the 475 drugs used, 425 are locally procured. There are around 350 units in the organized sector, while there can be many more in the unorganized sector. Bulk drug production is concentrated in the areas around Bombay, Ankleshwar, Hyderabad – Madras, Chandigarh.

 

India has very strong base in reverse engineering, molecular chemistry and patents on processes and not just on products. Major players in India in bulk drug category include: Ranbaxy, Dr. Reddy's, Cheminor, Shasun, Cipla, Lupin, IPCA, Sun, Aurobindo, Kopran, Cadilla, Wockhardt, etc. It is a well-acknowledged fact that most of the bulk drug companies are Indian companies while those into formulations are primarily MNCs.

 

Agrochemicals

 

India being an agricultural dominated country, it is obvious that the country is a major user of agrochemicals; nonetheless, the average Indian consumption is reportedly low i.e., 1/20th of world average. The segment has been witnessing a growth of 10% pa and has registered revenue worth US$800 million. Consumption of the crop varies depending on the crop and region. Cash crops like sugarcane, tobacco etc. consume large amount of pesticides, almost over 60%. Major agrochemicals exports include: Insecticides, Fungicides, Herbicides, Weedicides, Rodenticides, and Fumigants.

 

Paint and Dyes

 

Indian dyes are in demand world over, thanks to ban on production of dyes in developed nations due to the reservations related to pollution. Dyes are principally used in Paints, Inks, Textiles and Polymers. The total market of paint and dyes is almost US$ 1 Billion, and the growth rate is almost 12%. In addition, the marketplace is highly fragmented. There are about 25 large and medium players, which cover 50% market share, while 2000 other organized players contribute next fifty percent. Moreover, the per capita consumption is very low in India(400 gms) as opposed to the developed countries(15 kgs).

 

Overseas Trade

 

In the early 1990s, India was more into importing of chemicals; however, with the setting up of large scale petrochemical plants like Reliance, etc exports have improved. Even exports of bulk drugs, pharma, pesticides, dyes and intermediates have climbed up.

 

The overall performance of Indian Chemical Industry has been good in the domestic markets; however, in the international markets the industry it is yet to make its presence felt in a significant way. And factors like recession and crises in the Middle East have had a poor impact on the manufacturing and export sector of the industry.

 

The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), an association that consists 80% of the world manufacturers of chemicals has announced its support for a new round of multilateral trade negotiations in the World Trade Organization.

 

ICCA’s main concerns include: removal of chemical tariffs, management of anti-dumping practices, making simpler the custom processes and full execution of TRIPs agreement. While management of anti- dumping practices would profit India, the tariff-free world would lead to stiff competition

 

Road ahead

 

Highly developed technology, in-depth research capabilities, backward and forward linkages, development of domestic capacity to decrease the dependence on imports are some of the crucial factors that need to be taken into consideration. Nowadays, safety, health and environment protection issues have become the major-talking point in almost all industries and even in the Indian chemical industry too. The Indian chemical manufacturers are addressing the issue on a war-footing.

 

Made-from-india.com is a leading B2B portal from India , and has listed on its portal, some top manufacturers, exporters and suppliers of varied chemical products

View all articles by Jayeshmodi

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