Indian chemical industry: What's made, who leads, and why it matters

When you think of the Indian chemical industry, a vast network of factories producing everything from life-saving drugs to electronics components and industrial solvents. Also known as pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing in India, it’s not just about big plants—it’s about the quiet innovation in small labs and mid-sized units that supply global brands. This isn’t a story of imports. It’s about what’s made right here: active pharmaceutical ingredients for Cipla, chemical intermediates for global agrochemical firms, and specialty chemicals for solar inverters and EV batteries being assembled in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

The pharma manufacturing India, a core pillar of the chemical industry, where companies like Cipla produce generic drugs at a fraction of Western prices. Also known as Indian pharmaceutical production, it’s built on decades of technical skill, not just low labor costs. Cipla’s founders still hold nearly 40% of shares—not because they’re stuck, but because they chose to keep control to focus on affordable medicine. Meanwhile, the chemical manufacturing India, includes everything from dyes and plastics to high-purity solvents used in electronics. Also known as industrial chemical production, it’s the hidden backbone of India’s electronics boom. You can’t make a smartphone without chemicals for circuit boards, coatings, and batteries—and India now makes most of them.

It’s not all about scale. Small manufacturers are driving change too. A factory in Ludhiana making specialty polymers for medical devices, or a unit in Hyderabad producing raw materials for solar panels—these aren’t footnotes. They’re the reason India’s chemical exports hit $68 billion last year. And it’s not just pharma and plastics. The same chemical processes that make painkillers also make the electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries. The same labs that test drug purity now test the quality of materials used in EV chargers. The lines between sectors are blurring—and India is right in the middle.

If you’re wondering why Indian cars are expensive, part of the answer lies here: we make the electronics and chemicals, but we still import some key raw materials and high-end catalysts. The real opportunity isn’t just to make more—it’s to make better, smarter, and more integrated. That’s what the posts below show: who’s winning, what’s changing, and where the real profits are hiding in this massive, complex, and fast-moving industry.