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Basic chemicals and their related products like petrochemicals, fertilizers, paints, varnishes, glass, perfumes, toiletries, pharmaceuticals, etc constitute a significant part of the Indian economy, accounting for nearly 2.1 per cent of the GDP.

The Indian chemical products cover an array of more than 70,000 commercial products. In 2014-15, total FDI in chemicals stood at US$ 669 million whereas cumulative FDI till May 2015 from April 2000 was US$10.5 billion.


Total exports of dyes and dye intermediates, organic and inorganic chemicals, including agro chemicals, cosmetics and toiletries, essential oils, incense sticks and castor oil, stood at US$ 12.7 billion in 2014–15.

The US, the UAE, the UK, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia are the leading importers of cosmetics, toiletries and essential oils.

In 2014–15, exports of dyes and dye intermediates increased 9.2 per cent year-on-year to US$ 2.4 billion from US$ 2.2 billion. In the same period, exports of cosmetics, soaps, toiletries and essential oils increased 6.9 per cent to US$ 1.5 billion and that of castor oil improved 6.6 per cent to US$ 771.6 million. Exports of inorganic, organic and agro chemicals stood at US$ 8.0 billion.

Total export of Indian inorganic chemicals stood at US$ 1.42 billion in FY 2014-15, growing by 4.8 per cent Y-o-Y.