Basic Chemistry Products

A responsive and long-standing partner

A leading essential chemical input manufacturer, we are an important part of the value chain for global companies. Our ability to deliver world-class quality, supported by service reliability and cost competitiveness makes us a trusted player with a strong corporate brand and high image score. We deliver seamless connectivity and unmatched experience to our customers through a robust distribution and best-in-class technology platform.

3,023 KT

Soda Ash

221 KT

Sodium Bicarbonate

36,000 acres

Salt works area coverage

Business Overview

Basic Chemistry Products business is engaged in the manufacturing of inorganic chemistry products. We are global leaders in the segment, standing tall on the key pillars of customer-centricity, operational excellence and sustainability. We achieve this through continuous improvement programmes, cost optimisation, lean and innovative supply chain solutions and a focus on safety. We cement our status as preferred supplier by building and consolidating relationships and providing a differentiated, value-added portfolio.

Refer to page 03 for business enablers and page 28 and 29 for information on geographic presence and operational subsidiaries
Soda Ash
End-user segments and applications

Detergent, Sodium Bicarbonate, Textiles, Tanneries, other chemicals, dyes and intermediaries

  • Float glass – construction and housing, automobile, silicates
  • Container Glass - soft drinks, spirits, pharmaceuticals, tableware, glass
  • Detergents
  • Sodium Silicates
Brands/Products

Light Soda Ash, Dense Soda Ash, Granplus, Detmate

Sodium Bicarbonate
End-user segments and applications

Pharma (US/British/Indian Pharmacopoeia), animal and poultry feed, food grade, flue gas treatment, explosion suppressant, haemodialysis, dyes, intermediates and textiles

Brands/Products

Pharmakarb, Medikarb, Sodakarb, Alkakarb, Hemokarb, Briskarb, Speckarb

Salt
End-user segments and applications

Food processing, industrial salt, de-icing, dairy products, water softening and industrial applications

Brands/Products

Glacia, Granulite (British Salt), Magadi Moore, Nyama, Edible Salt

Halogen Products
End-user segments and applications

Agri-chemicals, pesticides, pharma intermediaries, fire retardants, textile processing

Brands/Products

Liquid Bromine, Caustic Soda, Chlorine

Raw materials
India/UK

Solar Salt, limestone, coke/ natural gas is procured in bulk from suppliers Brine from captive salt works

USA/Kenya

Coal and natural gas are procured in bulk from suppliers and Trona Ore from mining

Processing
India/UK

Synthetic: Soda Ammonia Process, Salt - Vacuum evaporation

USA/Kenya

Natural: Mining and Processing of Ore

Products
India/UK

Soda Ash, Sodium Bicarbonate Salt

USA/Kenya

Soda Ash, Crushed Refined Soda

Distribution (through partners)

Direct 73% and Channel

Partners 27%

Salt (India) 100% TCPL

Logistics (through partners)

via Sea, Rail, Road

Packaging

Bags, Bulkers

End use

Global Detergents and Glass Brands, Food, Animal Feed, Pharma and Chemical intermediates.

TCL, India
  • Resilience in demand for products in essential, health and hygiene segments resulted in demand consistency for Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate and Soda Ash
  • Resurgence in cement demand towards the end of FY 2020-21
  • Enhancement in caustic soda production led by commissioning of higher efficiency UDHE - caustic cell
  • Efficiency in product evacuation through container rakes and rail movement for meeting market demand amidst constraint in availability of trucks
  • Adoption of new work systems, additional health and well-being measures for employees and staggered shifts to keep plant operations on
  • Covid-19 led to partial closure of markets, restrictions in supply chain and Soda Ash market contraction
  • Increase in procurement of high-cost raw Salt, as flooding disrupted Mithapur plant operations and damaged harvested Salt
  • Brine and bittern dilution due to excessive rains, leading to higher operational and input costs for Salt, Soda Ash and Bromine
  • Lower import prices from Russia and Iran impacted Soda Ash realisation
  • Restricted physical market access and customer connects for sales team
  • Rescheduling of capex to conserve cash and align with force majeures of partners in early part of the year
TCNA, USA
  • Continuity in operations despite Covid-19 and the global demand destruction
  • Leveraged lower demand to implement critical maintenance jobs, leading to higher reliability and output of GR2
  • Ensured highest customer satisfaction scores
  • Refinanced US$ 375 million of long-term debt
  • Lower production and sales volumes due to lower demand
  • Levying of anti-dumping duty by South Africa resulted in cancellation of shipments
TCE, UK

Nearing completion of building UK’s first Industrial Scale Carbon Capture and Utilisation Plant. It will enable TCE to be the first in the world:

  • To make a net zero carbon footprint Sodium Bicarbonate and Sodium Carbonate products
  • To capture, purify and use CO2 emitted from power plant as a raw material for manufacturing high purity Sodium Bicarbonate
TCML, Kenya
  • De-bottlenecking the plant to realise SAM and CRS capacities
  • Product transhipment and loading facility construction of containerisation at Magadi
  • Solar power project to reduce energy cost and greening optimisation
Refer to page 87 in Management, Discussion and Analysis for more information on our operational performance
TCL, India
  • Focus on execution of capex programmes under Project Pragati
  • Maximising production volumes of all products
  • Enhancing market leadership and value-addition in Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Focus on safety, process safety and risk management and sustainable operations
  • Optimising outbound logistics and modes to enhance customer service and reduce freight cost
  • Optimising realisation through product and market mix rework
  • Intensifying R&D to develop new products, new applications and process improvements
  • Increasing the use of IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence), data analytics and technology to improve manufacturing practices and business processes
TCNA, USA
  • Focus on improving customer connect in developing, high-growth export markets, where we intend to grow business after exit from ANSAC
  • Implement new projects to reduce environmental load of site
  • Conceptual agreement on resolution of long-standing Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulatory issue
  • Modernising payroll and time-keeping systems and processes to a centralised ADP HRIS system
TCML, Kenya
  • Increase market presence by targeting growing regions like East and Central Africa
  • Focus on increasing capacities for SAM and CRS
TCE, UK
  • Building upon our industry leading carbon footprint by building UK’s first major CCU (nearing completion), new power plant (completed) for Salt operation and an energy from waste plant (expected completion 2023/24) at Lostock site
  • Enhance manufacturing capabilities with new investments, technologies and continuous improvement
  • Utilise electrical generation capacity to decarbonise UK National Grid and support intermittency challenges
  • Aggressively develop strong export capability in high grade and high-end applications