Chemical industry
Topic: Manufacturing Industries of India: Location and Distribution · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 6 "Manufacturing Industries"
Meaning
The chemical industry makes chemicals that other industries and people use. It is growing fast and has both large and small units. Inorganic chemicals include sulphuric acid, nitric acid, alkalis, soda ash and caustic soda. They are made all over India, because their inputs and buyers are found everywhere. Organic chemicals are petrochemicals, which means chemicals made from oil and gas. They are used for fibres, rubber, plastics, dyes and drugs, so these units locate near refineries. The chemical industry is its own largest consumer, because it uses many of its own products as inputs.
Example
Soda ash plants cluster on the Gujarat coast, close to the salt and limestone they need.
Don't confuse with
- Fertiliser industry: it is one branch of the chemical industry and makes only plant nutrients such as urea, DAP and NPK.
Related concepts
- Fertiliser industry
- Refinery locations in India
- Jamnagar refinery
- Pharmaceutical clusters of India
- Bulk drug parks