Business · 2026-10-19 · Morning briefing

Indian chemical firms partner abroad to enter chip market

At least 10 Indian chemical companies are moving to enter the semiconductor supply chain ahead of the country's first major chip fabrication plant, being built by Tata Electronics in Gujarat and set for production by mid-2028. Lacking a domestic customer base and the proven technology for ultra-pure materials, firms are pursuing two distinct strategies.

Some are investing locally to align with the future fab; Inox Air Products is building a 5 billion rupee ($52.5 million) specialty gas hub in Gujarat. Others are partnering abroad to gain immediate credibility. Anupam Rasayan acquired U.S.-based Jayhawk Fine Chemicals in February, while Acutaas Chemicals formed a joint venture with South Korea's J & Materials, opening a plant there in August.

The foreign-first approach is a shortcut around the industry's formidable entry barriers. Qualifying as a supplier can take years, as even trace contamination at parts-per-trillion levels can devastate chip yields. An acquisition, one CEO noted, can fast-track a journey that might otherwise take a decade.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

Read the sources

• Global Chip Firms Invest in India's Semiconductor Future
• Dalal Street's new chemistry: How India's chip push is fueling a specialty chemical rally
• Indian chemical firms turn to foreign partners to crack chip supply chains
• India Chemical Industry Directory 2026: Contact and Production Details for Thousands of Companies
• Chemical firm turns data center operator, proposes 500MW site in Maharashtra, India

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