India Chemical Production Calculator
Chemical Production Calculator
Key Production Data
80% of India's petrochemical capacity comes from Jamnagar-Dahej.
60% of India's plastic raw materials originate here.
50% of India's chlorine production is concentrated in this corridor.
Production Share Results
Select a chemical product and enter production volume to see results.
Why Jamnagar-Dahej Dominates
- Deep-sea ports Export Advantage
- Government industrial zones Dedicated infrastructure
- Proximity to oil fields Feedstock availability
When you think of chemical manufacturing in India, one name stands out above all others: Gujarat. But not the whole state - the real heart of it is a single city that churns out more chemicals than any other place in the country. That city is Dahej, but most people know the region better by its bigger neighbor: Jamnagar. Together, these twin industrial powerhouses form the backbone of India’s chemical production.
Why Jamnagar and Dahej? The Chemical Corridor
Between Jamnagar and Dahej, you’ll find over 80% of India’s petrochemical capacity. This stretch of coastline along the Gulf of Kutch isn’t just busy - it’s a dense network of refineries, chemical plants, and export terminals. Companies like Reliance Industries, ONGC, and Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals operate massive facilities here. The reason? Access to crude oil imports, deep-sea ports, and government-backed industrial zones designed for heavy industry.
Dahej Special Economic Zone (SEZ) alone hosts more than 50 chemical manufacturers. It’s not just about volume - it’s about diversity. You’ll find chlor-alkali plants producing chlorine and caustic soda, polyethylene and polypropylene units making plastics, and specialty chemical factories churning out dyes, pharmaceutical intermediates, and agrochemicals. This isn’t a cluster of small shops. These are billion-dollar plants running 24/7.
History That Built the Hub
Before the 1990s, India’s chemical industry was scattered. Most production happened in smaller plants near urban centers like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. But when economic reforms opened the door to private investment, companies looked for space, infrastructure, and efficiency. Jamnagar had none of the congestion of Mumbai, but it had something better: flat land, proximity to oil fields in the Arabian Sea, and a government eager to attract industry.
Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery, commissioned in 1999, was the game-changer. At the time, it was the largest refinery in the world. It didn’t just make fuel - it produced naphtha, a key feedstock for petrochemicals. Suddenly, making plastics, synthetic fibers, and industrial solvents became cheaper and more efficient right next door. Dahej followed, built as a purpose-built chemical zone with dedicated pipelines, wastewater treatment, and power supply.
What Gets Made Here?
It’s not just one type of chemical. The region produces a full spectrum:
- Basic chemicals: Ethylene, propylene, methanol, ammonia
- Polymers: HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC - used in packaging, pipes, and textiles
- Chlor-alkali products: Chlorine, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid - essential for water treatment, bleach, and pharmaceuticals
- Specialty chemicals: Dyes, pigments, surfactants, and intermediates for medicines
- Agrochemicals: Fertilizers and pesticides exported to Southeast Asia and Africa
Over 60% of India’s plastic raw materials come from this corridor. Nearly half of the country’s chlorine production is based here. And more than 70% of India’s export-bound chemical shipments leave from the ports of Dahej and Pipavav.
Other Chemical Cities in India - And Why They Don’t Compare
People often mention Mumbai, Chennai, or Vadodara as chemical hubs. They’re not wrong - but they’re not the leaders anymore.
Mumbai used to be India’s chemical capital. But land is expensive, pollution controls are strict, and space is limited. Many plants have shut down or moved to Gujarat.
Chennai has strong pharmaceutical chemical production, especially around Manali and Oragadam. But it’s focused on APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients), not bulk chemicals. It doesn’t make the same volume of plastics or petrochemicals.
Vadodara is home to Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals (GSFC), one of the oldest players. It’s important - but it’s a single large plant, not a dense ecosystem like Jamnagar-Dahej.
Even the National Chemical Laboratory in Pune focuses on R&D, not mass production. The real scale, the real output, the real export muscle - it’s all in Gujarat.
Who Uses These Chemicals?
The chemicals made here don’t stay in India. They’re shipped to over 100 countries. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Kenya rely on Indian-made PVC pipes and fertilizers. European textile companies buy dyes from Dahej. U.S. pharmaceutical firms source intermediates from Gujarat-based manufacturers. Even Amazon and Walmart source packaging materials made from plastics produced here.
Inside India, these chemicals feed other industries: textiles (dyes and finishes), construction (PVC pipes, adhesives), automotive (plastic parts), and food packaging (polyethylene films). Without Jamnagar-Dahej, India’s manufacturing sector would grind to a halt.
Challenges and Future Outlook
It’s not all smooth sailing. The region faces criticism for air and water pollution. Environmental groups have raised alarms about chemical leaks and emissions. In 2023, a major incident near Dahej led to temporary shutdowns and stricter monitoring by the Central Pollution Control Board.
But the industry is adapting. New plants now use closed-loop systems to recycle waste. Solar power is being integrated into chemical plants to cut emissions. The government is pushing for green hydrogen as a future feedstock - and Gujarat is already testing pilot projects.
By 2030, the Jamnagar-Dahej corridor is expected to produce over 40 million metric tons of chemicals annually. That’s more than the entire chemical output of Thailand or South Korea. India’s goal is to become the world’s third-largest chemical producer by 2035. And it’s not a dream - it’s happening right now, on the coast of Gujarat.
What Does This Mean for Businesses?
If you’re looking to source chemicals in India - whether you need bulk polyethylene, chlorine, or specialty dyes - Jamnagar and Dahej are your starting point. Many manufacturers offer direct exports and have ISO-certified production lines. You don’t need to go through middlemen. You can contact the plants directly.
For startups or small businesses, the region offers chemical distribution hubs in Surat and Ahmedabad that handle smaller orders. But if you need volume, reliability, and price competitiveness, you go where the factories are.
Visiting? Don’t expect tourist spots. This is industrial territory - gated complexes, pipelines, smokestacks, and port cranes. But it’s where modern India’s manufacturing engine lives.
Is Jamnagar the only city in India with a major chemical industry?
No, but it’s the largest. Other cities like Vadodara, Chennai, and Mumbai have chemical plants, but none match the scale, diversity, or export volume of the Jamnagar-Dahej corridor. Jamnagar and Dahej together produce over 80% of India’s petrochemicals and handle the majority of chemical exports.
What are the top chemical products made in Jamnagar and Dahej?
The region specializes in petrochemicals like ethylene, propylene, and polyethylene. It also produces chlor-alkali chemicals (chlorine, caustic soda), PVC, synthetic fibers, agrochemicals, and pharmaceutical intermediates. Over 60% of India’s plastic raw materials come from here.
Are chemical plants in Gujarat environmentally safe?
There have been past incidents of pollution, leading to public concern. However, new plants now follow stricter environmental norms. Many use closed-loop water systems, solar energy, and advanced emission controls. The government has increased inspections, and companies are investing in green hydrogen and waste recycling to meet future sustainability targets.
Can foreign companies buy chemicals directly from Jamnagar-Dahej?
Yes. Many manufacturers in the region export directly to buyers worldwide. Companies like Reliance, Gujarat Alkalies, and Aarti Industries have dedicated export divisions. You can contact them for bulk orders, sample requests, or long-term supply contracts. The ports of Dahej and Pipavav handle containerized chemical shipments to over 100 countries.
Why did chemical companies move from Mumbai to Gujarat?
Mumbai faced land shortages, high costs, and congestion. Gujarat offered large, flat plots near deep-sea ports, lower operational costs, and proactive industrial policies. The government also built dedicated infrastructure - pipelines, power lines, and sewage systems - making it easier for heavy industries to set up and scale.
If you're sourcing chemicals for your business, visiting Jamnagar or Dahej isn’t just about finding a supplier - it’s about tapping into the core of India’s industrial future. The factories here don’t just make chemicals. They make the materials that go into everything from your phone’s casing to the fertilizer on a farm in Kenya. And that’s why this stretch of coast is the undisputed chemical capital of India.
