The Human Touch of Chemistry

Global reach | Innovation | Sustainable chemistry

Tata Chemicals Limited (TCL) is a global company with interests in businesses that focus on LIFE — living, industrial and farming essentials. It is the world's second-largest producer of soda ash. With manufacturing facilities in India, UK, US and Kenya, TCL is the world’s most geographically diversified soda ash company, with an efficient supply chain that can service customers across the globe.

Established in 1939 at Mithapur (in Gujarat, India), TCL is a part of the Tata group. It is a leading player in the agribusiness sector with a strong presence in crop nutrients (urea and phosphatic fertilisers) and crop protection products. The company is a pioneer and market leader in the Indian branded iodised salt segment through its pioneering brand Tata Salt.

TCL’s global soda ash capacity is around 5.5 million tonnes per annum, out of which 60 per cent capacity is from natural soda ash deposits at Wyoming in the US and Lake Magadi in Kenya. Along with soda ash (sodium carbonate), the company also manufactures sodium bicarbonate and bulk chemicals such as sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, and sodium tripoly phosphate (STPP).

The company has extended its operations into the services sector and touches lives through applications in agriculture, animal nutrition, construction, consumer products, glass, metals, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, and textiles and leather industries.

Global reach: Since 2005 Tata Chemicals has adopted an internationalisation strategy. It acquired an equal partnership in Indo Maroc Phosphore SA (IMACID), along with Chambal Fertilisers and global phosphate major OCP of Morocco in that year. In early 2006, it completed the acquisition of UK-based Brunner Mond Group and its subsidiary, the Magadi Soda Company in Kenya.

In 2007, it entered the fruits and vegetables distribution business by setting up Khet-Se Agriproduce India, a 50:50 joint venture in partnership with Total Produce of Ireland, the world's third-largest fresh produce distribution company.

In 2008, Tata Chemicals acquired General Chemical Industrial Products, one of the largest soda ash manufacturers in the US. With this, TCL's global soda ash capability stands at around 5.5 million metric tonnes per annum.

Innovation: TCL plans to leverage its expertise in chemicals and agri-businesses together with its in-house research capabilities to develop strengths in new businesses and sustainable technologies. The company set up the TCL Innovation Centre in 2004 to develop world-class R&D capability in nanotechnology and biotechnology, and is also working to build a significant presence in the biofuels sector. Its Innovation Centre is also working on technologies that can mitigate climate change through "green chemistry" and product offerings that will make a difference like flue gas treatment, carbon absorption and nano glass-coatings for insulation.

Sustainable chemistry: Tata Chemicals is committed to meeting the highest standards of corporate governance and business practices. All of its activities integrate the principles of corporate sustainability. The company is a signatory to Responsible Care, a voluntary global initiative of the chemical industry that demonstrates allegiance to safety, health and environmental issues. Its Mithapur and Babrala plants have won the highest British Safety Council 5-star rating.

Tata Chemicals works directly with farmers in India to help solve crop problems and enhance yields. The company has set up a network of Tata Kisan Sansars (farmer centres) in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab, Haryana, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar. The network services around 22,000 villages, with access to over 3.5 million farmers.

In 1980, Tata Chemicals set up a non-governmental organisation – Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD) – that works towards holistic community development, including managing water, land and other natural resources, encouraging enterprise development, and promoting health and education. TCSRD's activities have been recognised at a national level.

Tata Chemicals is also involved in efforts to preserve the biodiversity of land along the coastline and the nesting sites of migratory birds. TCL and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) have signed an MoU for a conservation project that will create awareness and undertake research to save the endangered species of whale shark that visits the coastal shores of Gujarat.