Bharat Group: Growing Through Innovation - Backed By Customer Trust & Backward Integration

Five years have passed since the previous in-depth exchanges with Bharat Group in 2018. In the conversation at that time, we learned from Mr. S. N. Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director of Bharat Group, that the company, with its unwavering belief in the production of green and efficient agrochemicals, has continuously broadened the boundaries of product development through a successful backward integration strategy, and has bucked the trend of growth in the sluggish agrochemical market through export expansion. 2022 marks the 45th anniversary of Bharat Group. Once again, we had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Gupta and get an update on the company's progress over the past five years in terms of business expansion, product development and external partnerships.

In an interview Bharat Group did with us in 2018, you reviewed the development of the company in the five years from 2013 to 2017. The year of 2022 marks the 45th anniversary of the founding of Bharat Group. Could you review the development of the company in the five years from 2018 to 2022?

Over the past five years, our strategies and actions are in line to below areas which have been major contributors in our growth journey.

Strong focus on R&D and development/commercialization of new novel and patented products. We were able to add new novel off patent molecules in our product portfolio and also develop and commercialize patented intermediates and A.I. for our long term strategic global partners.

Bharat Rasayan Ltd. (BRL), one constituent company of Bharat Group, invested in global registrations (particularly in restricted market) as a part of long-term strategy and we were able to get registration of Bifenthrin, Metribuzin and Lambda Cyhalothrin in Brazil market and also got EPA registration in US market for Bifenthrin, Metribuzin, Lambda cyhalothrin, Sulfosulfuron and Zeta Cypermethrin.

Continuous upgradation of in the field of EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) increased the confidence level of our various MNC and Japanese partners and also ensured consistency in supply of material during tough situation. 

Needless to mention, our growth is due to the unparallel support of our strategic partners and highly skilled and dedicated professional team of BRL. 

Has the company invested in any new facilities and expanded production capacity in the past two years? What new products have been launched to the market?

Yes, Bharat has expanded its production capacity both at Mokhra-Haryana and Dahej Gujarat manufacturing plant. We have also finalized a new greenfield manufacturing unit-3 at Dahej Gujarat which will start commercial production by end of 2024 as part of our further backward integration strategy along with focus on contract manufacturing for our MNC and Japanese partners.

We also started formulation production in our second state-of-art greenfield facility at Panoli Gujarat spread across 8 acres to cater increasing demand for packed (P2P – pack to pack) formulation products by both domestic and global customers. Some of the new formulations which we can formulate include OD, ME, SC, WDG, WG, SE, ULV, SL apart from normal generic products.

New products which were launched by us in last couple of years includes: Penoxsulam, Tolfenpyrad, Pymetrozine, and Zeta Cypermethrin apart from some patented intermediates and technical as part of CRAMP business. 

Could you tell us about Nissan Bharat Rasayan Private Limited? It is said that this JV company will construct new manufacturing factory in India for various technical products. Are these products patented active ingredients from Nissan Chemical?

BRL has JV company with Nissan Chemical Ltd Japan. The company named as Nissan Bharat Rasayan Pvt Ltd (NBRL) has started its manufacturing operations from February 2023 at its very modern and automated facility at Sayakha, Gujarat. 

Major focus of this unit will be manufacturing of patented molecules for global requirement.

More buyers are turning to Indian companies for agrochemical products procurement. How do you evaluate India's current position and contribution in the global supply side of agrochemical products?

In last 5 years, there has been exponential increase in investment, production capacity, innovation in R&D, focus on EHS and backward integration by Indian manufacturers like Bharat Rasayan Limited.

Indian AgChem manufacturing industry has proved to be one of the best reliable alternative suppliers for global agrochemical demand in consistent manner.

Majority of new projects of patented molecules by various MNC and Japanese partners are partnered with Indian companies due to strong R&D, competitive price with strict compliance to IP rights and EHS norms.

We are sure that next 5 years are extremely bright for all genuine manufacturers in India due to unstable and unpredictable nature of Chinese AgChem suppliers. 

https://www.bharatgroup.co.in    +91-11-43661111/20/30

This article was initially published in AgroPages' 'Annual Review 2022' magazine.