Thirumalai Chemicals (TCL) is the largest domestic manufacturer of phthalic anhydride (PAN), and also produces maleic anhydride (MAN), food acids and plasticizers. The company?s first plant to manufacture PAN was set up in 1973 at Ranipet 100 kms from Chennai. The company rapidly expanded into the manufacture of maleic anhydride, fumaric acid and malic acid. In 1994, TCL set up TCL Industries (Malaysia), a joint venture project in Malaysia to produce maleic anhydride.
The plant is located at Kemaman in Terengganu state of Malaysia. After the commissioning of the ambitious expansion projects at Ranipet in South India, TCL ranks among the largest producers in the world of phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid and malic acid. TCL manufactures and markets industrial chemicals for the plastics, paints, resin industries and additives for the food and feed industry. TCL dominates the PAN business in the country as the largest seller of PAN. PAN, which is chiefly used in the manufacture of plasticisers and alkyd resins, accounts for over 80% of the company`s turnover with the rest coming from MAN and food acids. In the MAN segment again, the company is the largest player accounting for over 35% of total domestic production. MAN is used to manufacture alkyd resins, unsaturated polyester resins and agrochemicals. Besides, TCL is also present in the high value-added food acid business supplying to companies like Coke, Pepsi and Rasna. Thirumalai Chemicals exports its products to Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the Far East, and Australia. The company is based in Mumbai, India.