The Indian Chemical Council (ICC) has successfully inaugurated the 19th Annual India Chemical Industry Outlook Conference & Exhibition, held from March 11–12, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.

As India’s premier dialogue platform for the chemical and petrochemical sectors, this year’s conference focused on the theme “Shaping a Competitive and Resilient Chemical Industry for India,” bringing together global industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators.

The first day discussions centered on navigating global supply chain shifts, enhancing competitiveness, and driving sustainability within the Indian chemical industry.

The inaugural session of the conference witnessed addresses by global industry leaders such as, Marco Mensink, Director General, European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), Brussels, Belgium; Dr. Claus Rettig, Interim CFO, Evonik Industries AG & President Asia Pacific, Singapore; Sven Smit, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company; Christian Guckel, Global Head of Verticals Chemicals & Energy, Siemens, Germany and Haryono Lim, President – Mega Projects Asia, BASF, Guangdong, China.

In his address, Marco Mensink highlighted the increasing impact of geopolitical disruptions on the global chemical industry. Citing developments in Iran and tightening transport routes, he warned that potential disruptions to oil and gas supplies could severely affect energy prices, feedstock availability, and global trade flows in the coming weeks. Conversely, he noted that emerging policy frameworks and renewed momentum on international trade agreements—particularly closer engagement with India—signal a more industry-friendly approach.

In his keynote address, Dr. Claus Rettig, President of Asia Pacific at Evonik and Member of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG, highlighted how multinational corporations (MNCs) are enhancing business agility to maintain competitiveness amid evolving geopolitical, trade, and regulatory landscapes. 

Dr. Rettig emphasized that MNCs are actively recalibrating strategies, shifting from just-in-time logistics to regionalized "local-for-local" configurations to navigate tariff volatilities and geopolitical tensions. He underlined that free trade agreements (FTAs) are critical to industrial competitiveness, allowing world-scale chemical plants to access multiple markets.

Sven Smit, spoke on “Future of the Global Chemicals Industry in the Light of Macroeconomic Headwinds”, examining structural challenges, capital allocation, and long-term demand outlook. He emphasized that businesses are navigating a period marked by energy transitions, supply-chain reconfiguration, and technological disruption and companies will need to invest in innovation, diversify supply chains, and build greater operational resilience to remain competitive in an increasingly fragmented global landscape. He also pointed that these shifts present significant opportunities for emerging economies such as India, which can play a larger role in global manufacturing, innovation, and supply chains.

Christian Guckel deliberated on “Building Global Competitiveness in Chemicals Industry amid Geopolitical Shifts”, highlighting how digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and global collaboration will shape the future competitiveness of the chemical industry. He emphasised that trade agreements alone will not guarantee success; companies must invest in innovation, advanced technologies, and data-driven optimisation to remain competitive.

Haryono Lim, President – Mega Projects Asia, BASF, Guangdong, China, in his Keynote Address offered perspectives on large-scale project development and Asia’s evolving manufacturing ecosystem. He highlighted BASF’s strategic expansion in Asia through the development of its new integrated chemical production site in China, one of its largest investments, in the company’s history. The speaker also emphasised the importance of collaboration with government and regional stakeholders in transforming the site from undeveloped land into a major chemical manufacturing hub serving one of China’s most dynamic economic regions.

The opening remarks of the conference were delivered by Kamal P. Nanavaty, Chairman, Conference & Exhibition Expert Committee, ICC & President – Strategy Development, Reliance Industries Ltd, who set the context for discussions at a time of rapid transformation in global supply chains and trade dynamics.

Ramya Bharathram, President, ICC & MD & CFO, Thirumalai Chemicals Ltd, while delivering the welcome address, shared her perspectives on the Indian chemicals industry, highlighting its growth trajectory, resilience, and emerging global opportunities.

Samir Somaiya, Vice President, ICC & CMD, Godavari Biorefineries Ltd, delivered the Concluding Remarks and Vote of Thanks for the Inaugural Session, noting valuable points delivered by each speaker.

A key highlight of the Inaugural Session was the launch of the Whitepaper titled “From challenges to possibilities: Leading India’s chemicals industry through global headwinds” by McKinsey & Co.

Over the course of two days, the conference will witness global industry leaders and thought leaders alongside policymakers, deliberate on navigating geopolitical shifts, macroeconomic headwinds, and strategies for building global competitiveness, while also identifying pathways for India to strengthen its position in the global chemical value chain.