Polymers are compound with repeating small molecules and right from the formation of polymer industry in India, the sector has been growing. Polymer is one of the important products of the petrochemical industry and this product forms the major part of petrochemicals.

Polymers are used in the manufacture of different plastic products and this sector has registered a growth rate of 18% in the recent past. Some of the by-products of polymer industry include HDPE, LLDPE/LDPE, Polly Propylene, PVC and Polystyrene.

Benefits of polymers:

• Polymer products produce several benefits and they are used for different purposes as compared to the products of the other industries like wood, steel, paper, aluminum, etc…

• Polymer products conserve valuable natural resources and they are lighter, cheaper, and more versatile as compared to other traditional materials.

• Polymer products are widely used in packaging for extruded pipes, furniture, home appliances, molded industrial appliances and preservation of food products.

Growth promotion of Indian Polymer industry:

Government of India is planning to improve the polymer industry by achieving the following plans:

• Expansion of employment opportunities

• Creation of investor friendly environment

• Promotion of infrastructural development in Special Economics Regions and Special Economic Zones

• Internationally competitive and non-distortionary duties and taxes

• Plans are being made to emphasis on skilled manpower and infrastructure development

• Government is also planning to improve the manufacturing rate of this sector to 12%

Top five players in Polymer Industry:

The names of some of the top players in the polymer industry in India are given below:

• Finolex Industries Limited

• GAIL India Limited

• Haldia Petrochemicals Limited

• Reliance Industries Limited

• LG Polymers India Private Limited

Some of the details regarding these top five players in the polymer industry in India are given below:

Finolex Industries Limited:

This company came into existence in the year 1981 and it was previously called as Finolex Pipes Limited. This company holds the pride of being one among the top PVC pipe manufacturers in India. This company has ultra modern manufacturing units in India and they are dealing with PVC-U Pipes and fittings, methanol, ethylene dichloride, PVC resin and PVC Sheets.

GAIL India Limited:

GAIL began its operations in the year 1984 as a natural pipeline company and then developed as a major player in the gas industry in India. This company holds the pride of having laid the longest LPG pipeline in India. They entered into polymer industry by establishing a polymer complex at Patna and they are also planning to construct a new plant in Assam.

Haldia Petrochemicals Limited:

Haldia Petrochemicals Limited established a naptha based petrochemical complex in Haldia and they are acting as one of the best polymer manufacturers in India. They are dealing with the production of two main polymers namely polypropylene and polyethylene through their manufacturing units in different parts of the country.

Reliance Industries Limited:

In the polymer industry in India, Reliance Industry is the largest producer of polyester yarn and fiber, seventh largest producer of Mono Ethylene Glycol and Purified Terephthalic Acid, fifth largest producer of polypropylene and fourth largest producer of paraxylene. This company began its operations in this industry from the year 1977 and they are dealing with other industries as well.

LG Polymers India Private Limited:

This company is shortly called as LGPI and they are engaged in the production of different polymers like EPS Resin, HYPOL and LGSTRENE. Their HYPOL product includes flexible transparent polystyrene. This company was launched in the year 1961 at Vizagapatam in the name of Hindustan Polymers.

Apart from these companies, there are other top companies like NOCIL, Supreme petrochem Limited and TN Petrochemicals Limited and these companies also contribute to the development of polymer industry.