India has a vibrant chemical sector, which is famous worldwide for its capabilities. India ranks sixth globally in terms of production of chemicals and 14th in terms of its exports. Many Indian chemical manufacturers are active in the domestic as well as international market.
Besides, leading Indian chemical manufacturers make various products, like Agrochemicals, Basic Chemicals, Adhesives, Sealants, Construction Chemicals, Refrigerants, Hydrofluorocarbons, Fluoropolymers, etc. These chemicals have applications in industries, like automotive, consumer goods, construction, agriculture, etc.
The demand for many chemicals is tied to the ups and downs in the global and domestic economy. Hence, before investing in a chemical stock, you should thoroughly research its business model. Read this blog, as it takes a deep dive into this topic and provides a chemical stocks’s list.
Famous Chemical Stocks in India in 2024
Indian chemical companies are famous for manufacturing a range of products for both the domestic and international markets. It manufactures more than 80,000 commercial products, including agrochemicals, fertilisers, bulk chemicals, polymers, etc. Find below the most prominent chemical stocks’s list and the products they manufacture:
Company
| Products
|
Pidilite Industries
| Adhesives, Sealants, Construction Chemicals, and Specialty Products
|
Deepak Nitrite
| Fine and Specialty Chemicals, Agrochemicals, Basic Chemicals, and Polymers
|
Gujarat Fluorochemicals
| Refrigerants, Hydrofluorocarbons, Fluoropolymers, and Specialty Chemicals
|
Tata Chemicals
| Agrochemicals, Basic Chemicals, Specialty Products, and Nutraceuticals
|
PI Industries
| Agrochemicals and Fertilizers
|
Leading Chemical Stocks in India in 2024 as per Market Capitalisation
In 2024, the leading chemical stocks based on their market capitalisation are as follows:
Pidilite Industries: With a market capitalisation of ₹ 162,280 crore, Pidilite Industries is a force to reckon with in the Indian chemical industry. It is a prominent manufacturer of adhesives, sealants, construction chemicals, and specialty products. Its brand - Fevicol - has dominated the adhesive market in India for decades. Pidilite manufactures products for various industries, including automotive, construction, and consumer goods.
Solar Industries India: Solar Industries India has a market capitalisation of ₹ 97,367 crore. It is a leading manufacturer of industrial explosives, ammunition, and related products. Its products serve a wide range of industries, such as mining, defense, construction, and infrastructure. Apart from manufacturing bulk explosives, packaged explosives, and detonators, the company also makes defense ammunition and explosives for the Indian armed forces.
SRF: SRF is another prominent manufacturer of chemicals in India. It has a market capitalisation of ₹ 68,659 crore. It is involved in the manufacturing of chemicals, textiles, and polymers. The company supplies products to a range of sectors, like specialty chemicals, packaging films, and technical textiles. Its main products include engineering plastics, refrigerant gases, and coated fabrics. Due to its years of dominance, SRF is a leader in segments like fluorochemicals and industrial yarns.
PI Industries: PI Industries is a leading manufacturer of agrochemicals and fertilizers. With a market capitalisation of ₹ 62,531 crore, it is a prominent stock in the chemical industry in India. The company focuses on research and development (R&D) to develop pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides to improve agricultural productivity. Besides, PI Industries also offers services related to contract manufacturing and custom synthesis to global pharmaceutical and agrochemical companies.
Gujarat Fluorochemicals: At a market capitalisation of ₹ 48,059 crore, Gujarat Fluorochemicals is a leading company in this space. It manufactures refrigerants, hydrofluorocarbons, fluoropolymers, and specialty chemicals for industries, such as automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and refrigeration. It also manufactures solar-grade silicon for the renewable energy sector.
Factors to Consider Before Investing in Chemical Stocks in India
Before investing in chemical stocks, investors should consider these factors:
Technological Advancements: Many chemical manufacturers invest a lot in research and development (R&D) because technological advancements have a profound impact on their business. Hence, you should track such advancements while investing in the chemical sector.
Raw Materials: Availability and cost of raw materials, like natural gas and minerals, affect the performance of chemical companies. These raw materials are subject to price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions. Hence, before investing in a chemical company, you should analyse whether it can deal with such issues easily or not because volatility in the availability and price of raw materials can potentially affect its business.
Market Conditions: Factors like demand and supply of chemicals, economic growth, and global trends can impact this industry. When the demand is strong, chemical manufacturers manage to grow their business. However, during economic downturns, they struggle. Hence, investors should examine market conditions before investing in this sector.
De-inventorisation: When a company reduces its inventory levels to optimize its working capital and reduce its storage costs, it is called de-inventorisation. A company's de-inventorisation strategy can impact its cash flows and operational efficiency. For example, an efficiently run company reduces its excess stock to improve its profitability. Hence, an investor should analyse a chemical company's performance on this parameter before investing in it.
Supply Chain: Chemical manufacturers often have complex supply chains, which are affected by factors, like logistics costs and geopolitical tensions. You should analyse how a chemical company deals with disruptions in its supply chain. If it is not able to address such disruptions, it can be detrimental to its business.
Company Financials: While investing in a chemical stock, you should examine its financials. For example, you must analyse how its sales and profit have increased over the years. You should also check whether its free cash flows are growing or not. A company, which is not able to generate free cash flows in a sustainable manner, will find it difficult to survive in the long term.
Key Features of Indian Chemical Stocks
The key features of Indian chemical stocks are explained below:
Diversity: The Indian chemical industry is extremely diverse. Indian chemical companies manufacture a variety of products, like adhesives, sealants, construction chemicals, agrochemicals, basic chemicals, hydrofluorocarbons, etc. Hence, you have a lot to choose from, if you want to invest in Indian chemical companies.
Global Exposure: Several chemical manufacturers in India sell their products in the global market, apart from catering to the needs of Indian consumers. Hence, you can benefit from global exposure by investing in such companies.
Dividend Payouts: Many chemical manufacturers in India pay dividends. Hence, if you are keen on receiving dividend payments, then you should invest in chemical stocks that have a track-record of paying dividends regularly.
Cyclical Nature: The business of several chemical manufacturers is closely tied to the ups and downs of the Indian and global economy. When the economy expands, the demand for chemicals from industries, like automotive, consumer goods, and construction, grows. However, when the economy slows down, the demand for chemicals is affected.
Competitive Pressure: The chemical industry is extremely competitive both domestically and globally. This can create a lot of pressure on the prices of chemicals. Besides, companies have to invest in R&D to improve their products. Otherwise, they can lose their business to competition.
How to Invest in Chemical Stocks?
To invest in chemical stocks, you need to first research the business of such stocks. Hence, you should learn about the products of chemical companies you are keen on. You must also analyse their financial performance. For example, you should check their sales and profit growth. You should also check whether they are able to generate free cash flows or not.
Besides, you should open demat account to invest in chemical stocks. Hence, you must thoroughly research the services and charges of several brokers before opening a demat account.
Conclusion
If you trade in the Indian stock market and are keen to invest in chemical stocks, you have a lot of options to choose from. Moreover, the Indian chemical industry is growing at a decent rate. Hence, it can provide you with investment opportunities.
That said, you must keep in mind that the chemical sector is highly cyclical in nature. Its prospects depend upon the local and global economy. So, you should do proper research before investing in a chemical stock.
Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.
This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.
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