PLANTS : Linear Alkyl Benzene in INDIA

INDIA ONE OF THE LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF LAB IN THE WORLD

In the Indian LAB market, there are four major producers of LAB in India, namely Reliance group, Indian Oil Corporation, Tamil Nadu Petro Products and Nirma.

India is reeling under over supply of LAB, as the domestic demand is comparatively lower than the domestic capacity and production. The total domestic demand is estimated at around 300000 TPA, while the capacity is close to 500000 TPA. The players are exporting their surplus to ensure higher capacity utilization.

Reliance Industries is the largest player in the Indian LAB sector with dominant share of the capacity amounting to 185000 tonne per annum. RIL is also the 5^th largest producer of LAB in world.

IOC has established world's largest single-train LAB plant in Baroda with an installed capacity of 120000 TPA in August 2004.

Tamil Nadu Petroproducts has LAB capacity of 120000 TPA. 

Nirma follows it with installed capacity of 75000 tonne. Of these, Nirma uses substantial portion of its production for captive use in production of detergents.

During the month of September 2012, India imported approx. 23500 MT of Linear Alkyl Benzene which is  a very huge quantity in-spite-of having the excess production of the LAB in the country.

Can anyone know the reason behind the imports??