At a Glance
The inorganic chemical exports of India for the fiscal year 2023–24 include sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and many more products highly essential to the world’s industry. Products are mainly from the biggest markets to the United States, Europe, China, and the Middle East. It serves various industrial purposes ranging from fertilizers to chemical processing. This is one sector where challenges in the way of price volatility and strict regulations, among others, are prevailing but there is an opportunity of market expansion and improvement of sustainability. It reflects the critical importance of India’s inorganic chemical exports in meeting global industrial demands.
Inorganic chemicals highly contribute to India’s chemical sector exports and form one of the major shares within India’s overall chemical trading. Applications of these types of chemicals can be realized in diversified industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, building, and pharmaceuticals and many others. Apart from their utility, competitive pricing in India and strategic market access in the global trade further drive demand for inorganic chemicals.
In 2023–24, a shift was seen in India’s export sector of inorganic chemicals. Several chemicals came into the limelight due to their increasing industrial demand and key destinations. The article talks about the top 10 inorganic chemicals exported from India, mentions their main destination points, and also discuses diversified industrial applications.
General View of the Inorganic Chemicals Exported from India
Indeed, inorganic chemical export of India is voluminous and diversified; thus, it represents a list of acids, salts, oxides, and metallic compounds important to any industrial operation. If somebody ever asks what are inorganic chemicals of India, then you know that list is going to be quite long and diverse. Such compounds are an essential component in pH regulations, protection against corrosion, catalytic action, and thus in other sectors like manufacturing processes, treatments, and farming. The key inorganic chemicals exported from India include sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and potassium chloride.
These are very important in chemical processing, environmental management, and agriculture. The export of these chemicals is influenced by global demand, the availability of raw materials, production capacities, and stringent regulatory standards.These chemicals are the most important export items globally because India has low production costs and an abundance of raw materials. However, this sector faces challenges in price volatility, high international competition, and rising demands for higher environmental standards. This notwithstanding, the sector has grown at an incredible rate, driven by emerging economies and the growth of industrial applications.
This growth represents the critical role inorganic chemical exports play for the industries of the world in the satisfaction of their demand. Therefore, this plays a highly contributory role to India’s economic development. Since the industry is continually developing, the Indian companies are trying to enhance their technological capabilities as well as production efficiency to overcome the challenges and grasp the opportunities available in the global market.
Top 10 Inorganic Chemicals Exported out of India in the year 2023-24
Now that you know what are inorganic chemicals, let’s learn about the different inorganic chemicals whose exporting is done from India:
Sulfuric Acid
It is one of the most prominent inorganic chemical products that are exported from India. This chemical finds application as a fertilizer, along with chemical and petroleum refining agents. The other export products are sulfuric acid that leads among the exports for United States of America, Bangladesh, Nepal, and many others. Due to the versatility of sulfuric acid, which possesses very high demands in agriculture as well as industrial sectors, it happens to be a number one product for export.
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)
Hydrochloric acid finds its use in chemical processing and metal cleaning besides pH balancing. The key export destinations are the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Japan having highly divergent industrial usage.
Applications:
- It is extensively used in pharmaceuticals, food processing, and metal cleaning.
- In the pharmaceutical industry, it is an essential component in the production of medications, including various drugs and vitamins.
- In food processing, it is used in the production of food additives and preservatives.
- Additionally, anhydrous hydrochloric acid plays a significant role in metal cleaning processes due to its efficient ability to dissolve rust and scale.
Trade Statistics:
During the financial year 2023-24, India exported 151,704 metric tons of hydrochloric acid 33%, with a total export value of $14.99 million USD. These export figures reaffirm India’s position as a leading exporter of Hydrochloric Acid in the global market.
Top Export Destinations for Indian Hydrochloric Acid 33%:
| COUNTRY NAME | EXPORT QUANTITY (MT) |
| MALAYSIA | 32,802 |
| SOUTH AFRICA | 26,066 |
| NEPAL | 13,704 |
| KENYA | 7,976 |
| NIGERIA | 6,773 |
| TURKEY | 6,698 |
| GHANA | 4,962 |
| TANZANIA | 2,846 |
| SENEGAL | 2,744 |
| OTHERS | 47,133 |
| TOTAL |
1,51,704 |
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
Known as caustic soda. It is a chemical agent used in the production of papers, textiles, and soap. India has exported it to the United States and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also are its markets because the demand for sodium hydroxide is in the chemical and textile and paper sectors in these countries.
Applications:
- In the pulp and paper sector, caustic soda lye is crucial in the pulping process, as it helps break down lignin and facilitates fiber separation.
- Similarly, in the textile industry, it is used in scouring and bleaching processes to prepare fibers for dyeing.
- Additionally, caustic soda lye is a key ingredient in chemical manufacturing, especially in the production of detergents, soaps, and various organic compounds.
Trade Statistics:
In the 2023-24 financial year, India exported 1,46,556 metric tons of caustic soda lye, with a total export value of $51.66 million USD, highlighting India’s significant presence in the global caustic soda lye market.
Top Export Destinations for Indian Caustic Soda Lye:
| COUNTRY NAME | EXPORT QUANTITY (MT) |
| SAUDI ARABIA | 34,247 |
| SOUTH AFRICA | 25,340 |
| SINGAPORE | 21,000 |
| INDONESIA | 19,266 |
| KENYA | 18,760 |
| VIETNAM | 11,698 |
| URUGUAY | 7,219 |
| OMAN | 451 |
| NEW ZEALAND | 175 |
| OTHERS | 8,400 |
| TOTAL | 1,46,556 |
Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃)
Sodium carbonate is generally known as soda ash, and it is applied in the glass industry, detergents, and chemicals. The product is exported from India to major destinations, including the United States, Europe, and the Middle East by making a complete utilization of the cost benefit and demand in the global glass industry.
Potassium Chloride (KCl)
Potassium chloride is mainly used as fertilizer in agriculture and as a supplement in animal husbandry. Brazil, the United States, and most countries in Europe are the principal exporting destinations for this chemical compound.
Calcium Chloride (CaCl₂)
With its large spectrum of industrial application, Calcium Chloride is used for de-icing purposes, oil well drilling, and as a dryer in food industries among many others; therefore, calcium chloride is shipped to countries including United States, Russia, Europe and many others.
- In the construction sector, calcium chloride is utilized as a de-icing agent for roads and pavements during winter, effectively melting ice and snow.
- It also functions as a desiccant in concrete production, promoting the curing process and enhancing the strength and durability of concrete structures.
- Furthermore, calcium chloride is used in the oil and gas industry for drilling and completion fluids, as well as in food processing for preserving and firming fruits and vegetables.
Trade Statistics:
During the 2023-24 financial year, India exported 92,165 metric tons of calcium chloride, with a total export value of $23.40 million USD. These export statistics highlight India’s significant role in the global calcium chloride market.
Top Export Destinations for Indian Calcium Chloride:
| COUNTRY NAME | EXPORT QUANTITY (MT) |
| UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | 38,467 |
| OMAN | 15,707 |
| KUWAIT | 6,478 |
| VIETNAM | 5,368 |
| MALAYSIA | 3,932 |
| NIGERIA | 3,356 |
| THAILAND | 2,892 |
| VIETNAM | 2,241 |
| ANGOLA | 2,036 |
| OTHERS | 11,688 |
| TOTAL | 92,165 |
Ammonium Chloride (NH₄Cl)
This chemical is used as a fertilizer and is also used as a flux for the smelting process in metals. The major exporting countries of this chemical include China, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, which are the countries with booming agricultural industries.
Applications:
- In the chemical industry, anhydrous aluminium chloride acts as a catalyst in organic synthesis reactions such as Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation.
- It is also used in the production of dyes, pharmaceuticals, and fragrances.
- In the petrochemical sector, it is essential for polymerization processes, especially in the production of plastics and synthetic rubbers.
- Additionally, aluminium chloride anhydrous is used in wastewater treatment to coagulate and remove impurities.
Trade Statistics:
In the financial year 2023-24, India exported 82,243 metric tons of aluminium chloride anhydrous, with a total export value of $33.81 million USD. These figures demonstrate India’s substantial contribution to the global anhydrous aluminium chloride market and emphasize its crucial role in diverse industries.
Top Export Destinations for Indian Aluminium Chloride Anhydrous:
| COUNTRY NAME | EXPORT QUANTITY (MT) |
| MALAYSIA | 14,658 |
| BELGIUM | 13,330 |
| UNITED STATES | 7,623 |
| SRI LANKA | 3,911 |
| SOUTH AFRICA | 3,866 |
| SINGAPORE | 3,692 |
| PUERTO RICO | 3,472 |
| UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | 2,832 |
| UNITED KINGDOM | 2,786 |
| OTHERS | 24,474 |
| TOTAL | 80,644 |
Zinc Oxide (ZnO)
Zinc oxide is utilized in the rubber industry, ceramics, and pharmaceutical industries. Zinc oxide is exported from India to China, Europe, and the United States, which are significant importers of zinc oxide to be used in manufacturing and medicines.
Alumina
Alumina is used in the form of aluminum metal and as a chemical intermediate. Alumina is exported from India to UAE, China, and Europe, according to the demands from the worldwide aluminum smelting and refining industry.
Ferric Chloride (FeCl₃)
This is used in water treatment, wastewater treatment, and manufacturing of other chemicals. Key export destinations are the United States, Japan, and European countries due to the critical role that this chemical plays in environmental management.
Also Read: Emerging Trends in the Global Chemical Industry
Important Export Markets and Countries
The top export destinations for Indian inorganic chemicals during 2023–24 reflect the demand for these chemicals globally in various industries. The primary markets include the United States, Europe, China, the Middle Eastern countries, Bangladesh, and South Africa. These areas are important because of growing industries, expanded agricultural areas, and ever-growing urbanization, and therefore demand these chemicals like sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, and potassium chloride.
For all these reasons, competitive pricing, quality, and adherence to global regulatory standards placed the country as a preferred supplier in these markets.For example, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide chemicals mainly find their way to United States, and cost competitiveness in India supports that fact. Europe is an essential market for soda ash and alumina, which again, is a critical output for glass and aluminum industries based there. Brazil and Indonesia have also followed a rising trend for fertilizers and chemicals, which represent applications in agriculture.
Industrial Applications and Uses
The top 10 inorganic chemicals exported by India in 2023–24 have diverse industrial applications. Let’s take a look at the brief usages:
Sulfuric Acid: Fertilizers, petroleum refining, chemical processing, and wastewater treatment.
Hydrochloric Acid: Used for cleaning of metals, chemical processes, and pH balance.
Sodium Hydroxide: Critical for manufacturing paper, textiles, soaps, and detergents.
Sodium Carbonate: Used in glass manufacturing, detergents, and chemicals.
Potassium Chloride: A key ingredient in fertilizers and animal feed supplements.
Calcium Chloride: Used in de-icing, oil well drilling and food processing.
Ammonium Chloride: Used as fertilizers and as flux for metal extraction.
Zinc Oxide: Used for rubber manufacturing, ceramics and pharmaceuticals.
Alumina: Raw material in aluminum metal production
Ferric Chloride: Used in water and wastewater treatment
These chemicals play a supporting role for industries but also contribute towards increasing industrial efficiency and industrial production in exporting countries.
Issues and Opportunities of the Export Sector of Inorganic Chemicals
The inorganic chemical export sector of India has its own set of problems: price volatility, stringent environmental regulations, and a fierce global competition. Changes in raw material prices, geopolitics, and very high environmental standards will also mean that companies must work to have good risk management mechanisms in place. Infrastructure, technology, and human resources demand continuous investment to ensure global market competitiveness.
Some of these factors include the growing demand from emerging economies, increasing industrial sectors in developing countries, and rising pressure from sustainability and environmental regulations. Thus, Indian exporters can leverage opportunities through diversification of products, new markets, and value propositions through quality improvement and compliance with international standards.
Conclusion
During the year 2023-24, import and export of inorganic chemicals from and to the states of India would reflect the increase in demand of such chemicals from the Indian and global industries. These are the ten top chemicals that India exports and continue contributing to the economy while meeting critical applications in international trade. With the changing regulations, market demands, and technology changes over time, Indian exporters must be ready to update their approaches to create a sustainable competitive advantage.
With the best quality, innovative practices, and sustainable practices, India can emerge as a promising player in the global inorganic chemicals market, and Elchemy too is playing its part in the making.
