India is the sixth largest producer of chemicals in the world by output. The industry is currently valued at $240 billion and is projected to reach $300 billion by 2030, with long-term forecasts targeting $1 trillion by 2040. India exports over $21 billion worth of chemicals and allied products annually, with major destination markets including the United States, Brazil, China, Western Europe, and Japan.
The industry covers over 80,000 commercial products in the following categories:
- Inorganic and organic chemicals
- Drugs and pharmaceuticals
- Plastics and petrochemicals
- Dyes and pigments
- Fine and specialty chemicals
- Pesticides, agrochemicals, and fertilizers
Selected major foreign investors and their chemicals products in India include:
- Dow Chemicals (Michigan) – products and solutions for agriculture, construction, electronic materials, and infrastructure industries
- DuPont (Delaware) – solutions for food and energy sustainability, serves industries including automotive, health care, and mining
- Croda International (U.K.) – specialty chemicals for textiles, polymers, agrochemicals, and personal, health, and home care
- Henkel (Germany) – laundry/home care, beauty care, and adhesive technologies
- Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (Japan) – Purified Terephthalic Acid, sold in India for the past 20 years
Some Indian chemicals manufacturers are:
- Reliance Industries – India’s largest petrochemical and polymer producer
- Excel Crop Care – agrochemical manufacturer, based in Mumbai
- Bharat Group – agrochemical manufacturer comprised of smaller companies Bharat Rasayan, Insecticides, and Agrotech
- Supreme Industries – India’s leading plastic processor, based in Mumbai
- Haldia Petrochemicals – one of the largest petrochemical companies in India
- Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories – pharmaceutical company headquartered in Hyderabad
India’s chemicals industry is growing because of the country’s growth in agriculture, construction, clothing, and automotive sectors and the strong demand for exports. Government policies such as allowance of 100% foreign direct investment and support for research and development also contribute to the sector.
Last updated: August 3rd, 2026
