India’s chemical industry was valued at $108.4 billion in 2010. The chemical and petrochemical sectors account for about 3% of the country’s GDP and are expected to have grown 8.0% and 12.6%, respectively, from 2007 to 2012 under India’s 11th Five-Year Plan. In 2011, chemical production increased 6.6% to 8.0 million metric tons (mmt). Production of alkali chemicals increased 6.8% to account for 75% of chemical production. Production of inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals and dyes increased 10.4%, 4.8% and 11.9%, respectively. But pesticide production remained flat. As for petrochemical production, it grew 8.7% to 9.0 mmt. Polymer production grew 10.5% to make up 59% of petrochemicals produced. Performance plastic, synthetic fiber and synthetic detergent intermediate production grew 11.1%, 7.3% and 3.2%, respectively, while elastomer production fell 10.4%. Chemical production from January through September was 4.0 mmt, and petrochemical production was 4.5 mmt.

Source: Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers