PRODESK ENGINEERING MANPOWER SOLUTIONS

Covering more than 80,000 commercial products, India’s chemical industry is extremely diversified and can be broadly classified into bulk chemicals, specialty chemicals, agrochemicals, petrochemicals, polymers and fertilisers.

Globally, India is the fourth-largest producer of agrochemicals after the United States, Japan and China. India accounts for ~16% of the world production of dyestuffs and dye intermediates. Indian colorants industry has emerged as a key player with a global market share of ~15%. The country’s chemicals industry is de-licensed, except for few hazardous chemicals. 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 global level (excluding pharmaceuticals).

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.

India’s proximity to the Middle East, the world’s source of petrochemicals feedstock, enables it to benefit on economies of scale.

The Indian chemicals industry stood at US$ 178 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach US$ 304 billion by 2025 registering a CAGR of 9.3%. The demand for chemicals is expected to expand by 9% per annum by 2025. The chemical industry is expected to contribute US$ 300 billion to India’s GDP by 2025.

An investment of Rs. 8 lakh crore (US$ 107.38 billion) is estimated in the Indian chemicals and petrochemicals sector by 2025. The specialty chemicals constitute 22% of the total chemicals and petrochemicals market in India. The demand for specialty chemicals is expected to rise at a 12% CAGR in 2019-22.

Indian manufacturers have recorded a CAGR of 11% in revenue between FY15 and FY21, increasing India’s share in the global specialty chemicals market to 4% from 3%, according to the Crisil report. A revival in domestic demand and robust exports will spur a 50% YoY increase in the CAPEX of specialty chemicals manufacturers in FY22 to Rs. 6,000-6,200 crore (US$ 815-842 million). Revenue growth is likely to be 19-20% YoY in FY22, up from 9-10% in FY21, driven by recovery in domestic demand and higher realisations owing to rising crude oil prices and better exports.

A few recent developments/investments in the Indian chemical sector are as follows:

• From April 2021-March 2022, exports of organic & inorganic chemicals increased 38.67% YoY to reach US$ 24,313.88 million.
• Chemical production reached 907,639 MT in August 2022, while petrochemical production reached 1,727,019 MT. In August 2022, production levels of various chemicals were as follows: Soda Ash: 267,416 MT, Caustic Soda: 283,279 MT, Liquid Chlorine: 203,195 MT, Formaldehyde: 26,842 MT and Pesticides and Insecticides: 18,881 MT.
• In July 2022, NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) and Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) signed an MoU to establish India's first commercial-scale Green Ammonia and Green Methanol plants.
• 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 specialty chemicals at its Panipat Refinery in Haryana.
• In November 2021, Praj Industries Limited and Indian Oil Corporation inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities in the production of alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) fuels, 1G & 2G ethanol, compressed bio-gas (CBG) and related opportunities in the biofuels industry.
• In November 2021, Coromandel International announced plans to set up 1,650-metric-tonnes-per-day sulphuric acid plant at its fertiliser complex in Visakhapatnam with an investment of Rs. 400 crore (US$ 53.69 million).
• On September 30, 2021, Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, inaugurated the CIPET: Institute of Petrochemicals Technology, Jaipur.
• In October 2021, Nayara Energy announced that it expects 15-20 new integrated petrochemical plants to become operational within the next decade in the country, to meet the rising demand for raw materials used in the plastics and clothing industries.
• In October 2021, Rosneft, Russia, launched a large-scale petrochemical production development programme in India with investments worth ~US$ 750 million at the current implemented stage.
• In September 2021, Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), announced plans to invest US$ 4.05 billion, to improve petrochemical capacity and refining efficiencies over the next five years.
• The government is planning to hold roadshows in eight overseas markets for the proposed investors’ summit planned in January 2022, with 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).

The government has started various initiatives such as mandating BIS-like certification for imported chemicals to prevent dumping of cheap and substandard chemicals into the country.

The Indian government recognises chemical industry as a key growth element and forecast to increase share of the chemical sector to ~25% of the GDP in the manufacturing sector by 2025.

• Under the Union Budget 2022-23 the government allocated Rs. 209 crores (US$ 27.43 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 crores (US$ 213.81 million).
• The Government of India is considering launching a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme in the chemical sector to boost domestic manufacturing and exports.
• 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 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.
• In October 2020, the government urged players in the agrochemicals industry to come out with new molecules of global standards for the farmers' benefit, while CropLife India, the industry body, pitched for stable policies and regulatory regimes to boost growth in the sector.
• 100% FDI is allowed under the automatic route in the chemicals sector with few exceptions that include hazardous chemicals. FDI inflows in the chemicals sector (other than fertilisers) reached US$ 20.41 billion between April 2000-June 2022.
• The government has proposed several incentives for setting up a sourcing or manufacturing platform within an Indian SEZ:
  • Effective April 1, 2020, 100% Income Tax exemption on export income for SEZ units for the first five years, 50% for the next five years thereafter and 50% of the ploughed back export profit for next five years.
  • Single window clearance for central and state-level approvals.
  • Duty free import/domestic procurement of goods for development, operation and maintenance of SEZ units.
• In December 2020, the PCPIR policy is being completely redesigned. Under the new PCPIR Policy 2020-35, a combined investment of Rs. 10 lakh crore (US$ 142 billion) is targeted by 2025, Rs. 15 lakh crore (US$ 213 billion) by 2030 and Rs. 20 lakh crore (US$ 284 billion) by 2035 in all PCPIRs across the country. The four PCPIRs are expected to generate employment for ~33.83 lakh people. ~3.50 lakh persons have been employed in direct and indirect activities related to PCPIRs by the end of 2020.

Despite the current pandemic situation, the Indian chemical industry has numerous opportunities considering the supply chain disruption in China and trade conflict among the US, Europe and China. Anti-pollution measures in China will also create opportunities for the Indian chemical industry in specific segments.

Additional support, in terms of fiscal incentives, such as tax breaks and special incentives through PCPIRs or SEZs to encourage downstream units will enhance production and development of the industry. The dedicated integrated manufacturing hubs under Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Regions (PCPIR) policy to attract an investment of Rs. 20 lakh crore (US$ 276.46 billion) by 2035.

To bring about structural changes in the working of domestic chemical industry, future investments should not only focus on transportation of fuels such as petrol and diesel, but also on crude-to-chemicals complexes or refineries set up to cater to the production of chemicals.

Note: Conversion rate used for August 2022 is Rs. 1 = US$ 0.01336

References: RBSA Advisors, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, India Chem report 2020, Dyestuffs Manufacturers Association of India