Lanxess is reinforcing its long-term commitment to India through an innovation-led specialty chemicals strategy, alongside the inauguration of a new lubricant additives plant in Gujarat, a senior executive said.
Speaking at a presentation in Mumbai on 24 April, board member Hubert Fink said the company is focusing on medium-sized, high-value markets rather than large-volume commodity chemicals, with an emphasis on product differentiation, application expertise and close customer partnerships.
Fink said Lanxess operates globally across multiple regions, with strong market positions in Europe and the United States, while India and the broader Asia-Pacific region are emerging as key growth drivers.
The company’s diversified exposure across sectors such as energy, industrial applications, agriculture, consumer goods, construction and automotive helps balance cyclical risks and supports resilience.
Fink said India has become one of the fastest-growing markets for Lanxess, supported by sustained investments, expanding manufacturing capabilities and increasing demand for localised production. The company operates major facilities in Nagda, Madhya Pradesh and Jhagadia, Gujarat, serving multiple business units.
He highlighted sustainability as a core pillar of the company’s strategy, with targets to achieve climate neutrality in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040 and across the value chain by 2050. He noted that supply chain reliability and strong regional manufacturing networks are increasingly valued by customers amid global uncertainties.
Plant inauguration in Gujarat spurs lubricant additives business
Lanxess inaugurated a new blending plant for specialty lubricant additives at its Jhagadia site in Gujarat, aimed at serving customers across India, the Middle East and other global markets.
The facility marks a significant expansion of the company’s lubricant additives business in India and has been designed with a focus on safety, energy efficiency and responsible environmental practices.
“India stands at the forefront of global economic growth, offering significant opportunities across industries. LANXESS is committed to deepening our presence and investing in India’s future, aligning our long-term strategy with the nation’s dynamic potential. Through prudent investments and a focus on sustainable growth, we aim to contribute meaningfully to India’s evolving industrial landscape,” Fink said.
Speaking at the inauguration, Neelanjan Banerjee, senior vice president and global head of the business unit, lubricant additives at Lanxess, said, “India is the third largest lubricants market in the world and a key growth region for us. To participate in this key market, we set up our Application Technology Center in 2025. The commissioning of this new production site in India is the next milestone for us and a strong testament to the ‘Make in India’ initiative. With this plant, we are reinforcing our strong commitment to our customers in the region. This facility strengthens our ability to reliably serve customers across India, the Middle East, and other markets with high-quality, innovative lubricant additive solutions, with a local-for-local approach.”
The company signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Oil Corporation Limited to introduce advanced technologies in the Indian market and has begun third-party manufacturing for its lubricant additives business.
Lanxess said the new facility will support faster delivery, improved responsiveness and closer technical collaboration with customers as demand continues to evolve, reaffirming India’s role as a strategic growth engine in its global operations.
