From Indian Spices to Masterbatches: India’s Role in Shaping the Future of Plastics

When India first emerged on the global trade map, it wasn’t machinery or technology that captured the world’s imagination. It was spices — small, simple ingredients that transformed ordinary food into something extraordinary. Every region wanted them, every culture adapted them, and no recipe was ever quite the same without them.

In many ways, I see the masterbatch industry in India following a similar path. Masterbatches, like spices, define the very character of plastics. In other words, it’s the essence that every plastic product needs. They bring color, strength, safety, and now even sustainability. And just like tastes in food, customer requirements keep evolving. Nobody wants the same solution repeated; they want something fresh, relevant, and available without delay.

The Pace of Change

What excites me about this industry is how quickly things are changing. Today, when a customer comes to us with a requirement, they expect it immediately. There is no room for overdesign, no time for endless iterations. The solution has to be optimal, tested, validated, and ready.

That urgency demands deep expertise. We cannot rely only on processes; we must know the subject in detail, understand the end-use application, and correlate what we test in the lab with what actually happens in the field. This, I believe, is one of our biggest challenges — and also one of our greatest opportunities.

Challenges Unique to India

The Indian masterbatch industry is in a phase of continuous evolution, and I am proud that we are growing stronger every year. Still, there are challenges that we must navigate:

Testing and Validation:Lab-scale results do not always reflect outdoor performance, so we must define safety margins carefully. :

Tariff Imbalances: While raw materials attract anti-dumping duties, finished masterbatch products are often imported at zero duty. This makes it difficult for domestic manufacturers to compete fairly.

Customization Pressure: Every customer, every market has its own “taste” — and those tastes keep changing. We cannot repeat the same solution again and again. The demand for fresh, optimized answers is constant.

Yet despite these challenges, I believe the Indian industry is well-prepared to meet not just local demand but also international expectations.

What we’re doing at JJ Plastalloy

At JJ Plastalloy, we have chosen to treat these challenges as opportunities to grow. In the past 12 months, we have doubled our production capacity for both masterbatches and compounds. This expansion has given us the strength to serve India and, at the same time, build greater confidence in our global partnerships.

One of our proudest accomplishments during this period has been achieving the distinction of becoming India’s first and only AEO Level 3 certified masterbatch company. This certification not only reflects our commitment to supply chain security, compliance, and global trade facilitation but also reinforces the trust our partners place in us.

  • Our focus has been on creating value-driven solutions: Developing a wide portfolio of fire-safe and electrical-safe masterbatches and compounds.

  • Driving import substitution by producing locally what was once routinely imported.

  • Expanding exports to more than 40 countries, strengthening India’s position in the global supply chain.

Regulations as Enablers

I often hear that regulations are tedious — too much documentation, too many layers of compliance. And yes, sometimes they feel that way. But when we ask “why,” the purpose becomes clearer. Regulations exist to make products safer, more sustainable, and globally competitive.

This is why I see our role as more than just supplying masterbatches. We are knowledge partners. It is our responsibility to help customers understand the purpose behind regulations, explain their benefits, and show how compliance creates trust and confidence. That’s where I believe companies like ours truly differentiate ourselves.

Looking Ahead

The story of Indian spices teaches us that success lies in personalization, responsiveness, and adaptability. That story is now being retold through India’s masterbatch industry

At the recently held RACE 2025 panel discussion, I had the privilege of sharing these reflections with industry peers. It was a reminder that we are not just keeping up with global standards — we are shaping them.

At JJ Plastalloy, this is the vision that drives us. With three decades of experience, a recently expanded capacity, and a strong focus on safety and sustainability, we are prepared not just to meet demand but to create value in every market we serve.

Our journey is clear: To innovate, to collaborate, and to add value — just as India has done for centuries.

— Shivam Bansal,

Director & CEO, JJ Plastalloy