Soda Ash Industry in India

Soda ash, scientifically termed sodium carbonate, is a white, odourless, and water-soluble powder with a slightly alkaline taste. Due to its distinctive chemical properties, soda ash finds extensive applications across various industries. Its primary uses include glass manufacturing, water treatment, detergent, and cleaning product production, among others.

Commonly known as washing soda, Soda Ash is sodium carbonate with Na2CO3 as its chemical formula. It is a water-soluble sodium salt of carbonic acid. It is white, odourless, and comes with a slightly alkaline taste. These distinct qualities make soda ash widely popular in various industries. It is commonly used in water treatment and glass manufacturing, along with the production of detergents, water-softening chemicals, pulp and paper, and cleaning products.

The multifaceted usage of soda ash makes its demand quite high. In 2023, the global soda ash market was bubbling at around $21.5 billion. By 2032, it's forecasted to go up to $38.2 billion, riding a CAGR of 6.6% from 2024 to 2032. Several soda ash manufacturers in India contribute to the domestic and international markets. We will take a look at two of the most prominent ones.

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Soda ash: The hidden hero of everyday life

Over 50% of the world's soda ash is used in making glass for buildings, cars, water, drinks, and food containers. It also helps save energy and reduces CO2 emissions during glass production.

• From beer bottles to kitchen jars, from soft drink bottles to sauce bottles, soda ash helps everywhere.
• Sodium carbonate, or soda ash, is essential for making powdered detergents and soaps. Its high alkalinity and surfactant properties help the detergent dissolve stains better and use less water.
• Another major use of soda ash is for metallurgical processes, which involve the extraction and smelting of metals.
• The manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, commonly found in electric cars, mobile devices, etc., also requires soda ash.

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Soda ash manufacturers in India

Soda ash is a heavy chemical derived from sodium chloride and limestone. It is non-corrosive and safer to handle, making it a much better option than sodium hydroxide. Its usage in various industries gives it a big market in the country. The pandemic brought a major surge of 4.1% in the production of soaps, detergents, and other cleaning products. This higher demand for cleaning products further boosted the Indian soda ash industry. As soda ash manufacturers in India cater largely to the glass industry, it further fuels the demand for this useful chemical.

Let us take a look at the major players when it comes to the prominent soda ash manufacturers in India.

Tata Chemicals

When it comes to soda ash manufacturers in India, one of the leading names is Tata Chemicals. Their Mithapur plant in Gujarat is one of the largest soda ash facilities in the country, producing both dense and light soda ash for a variety of applications. Globally, Tata Chemicals is the third-largest soda ash producer and the most geographically diverse company in the soda ash industry.

Apart from India, the company has manufacturing hubs in the UK, the US, and Kenya, creating a slick supply chain ready to serve customers all over the globe. 60% is derived from natural deposits located in Wyoming, United States, and Lake Magadi, Kenya. Additionally, the company has a 35% ownership of the low-cost and sustainable natural soda ash production capacity.

GHCL Limited

The other player on the list of the top soda ash manufacturers in India is GHCL. With over 40 years in the industry and a turnover of a whopping Rs. 45.84 billion, Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Limited's soda ash plant in Sutrapada, Gujarat, is one of India's top producers of soda ash (anhydrous sodium carbonate), with an annual capacity of 12 lakh tonnes.

This allows the company to meet about 25% of the country's yearly domestic demand. The plant benefits from having its raw material sources, with lignite mines in Khadsaliya in Gujarat providing essential supplies for soda ash production. GHCL produces two types of soda ash: light and dense. It also makes sodium bicarbonate, all of which is sold in India under the brand name "LION."

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Soda ash market

Soda ash is riding high as the glass industry grows, especially with the food and beverage sector’s thirst for expansion. The growing demand for soda ash from the soap and detergent industry is also a main driver of the Indian soda ash market. Besides the fact that soda ash is a magical powder, which is a must-have in household detergents and cleaning solutions, government initiatives are also giving a boost to soda ash demand.

The Indian government is actively working to support the soda ash market by strengthening its end-use industries. The Indian soda ash market is projected to hit US $1.7 billion by 2027, growing at an annual rate of 5.7% from 2022 to 2027.