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Companies that lead the way

Relentless pursuit of excellence, zeal for innovation and
customer-centricity have helped Aditya Birla Group
companies climb to the top

The Aditya Birla Group is a global conglomerate that spans many industrial sectors and geographies and has a history that dates back over 150 years. Over time, several Group companies have risen to the numero uno position on the world stage and market leadership in India.

We take a close look at the milestones, achievements and course-defining events in the history of these leading companies and the reasons that have helped them become sector majors on the industry landscape.

Global toppers

  • Hindalco

  • Grasim

  • Birla Carbon

India's leaders

  • UltraTech

  • ABFRL

  • Aditya Birla Chemicals

Hindalco Industries # 1 in aluminium rolling and recycling

Hindalco Industries is the world's largest aluminium rolling and recycling company. From an India-based aluminium major, Hindalco today enjoys being the world's largest flat-rolled products player and recycler, with a global footprint spanning 47 manufacturing units across ten countries.

Strategic acquisitions have been key to its transformation as a world leader – the latest being the acquisition of US-based aluminium major Aleris Corporation. The move provided further impetus to Hindalco's efforts to diversify its metals downstream portfolio into premium market segments such as aerospace.

In 2007, Hindalco had acquired the Atlanta-based Novelis Inc. to become the world's largest producer of rolled aluminium. In addition to catapulting Hindalco as a global major, the acquisition showed how Indian companies were a force to reckon with in global deal-making. The combined entity today is an innovation-driven metals powerhouse, with leadership in automotive, beverage can and building and construction segments. Novelis alone owns more than 140 automotive-specific patents.

Hindalco is also a leading producer of copper with a state-of-the-art copper facility that is among Asia's largest custom smelters at a single location. Driven by its purpose of 'Manufacturing materials for a greener, stronger, smarter world', Hindalco has been recognised globally for its sustainability performance and has achieved Aluminium 'Industry Leader' ranking in the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) ranking for 2020.

Grasim Industries # 1 in viscose staple fibre

Grasim Industries Ltd. is one of the world's largest producers of viscose staple fibre (VSF) and viscose filament yarn (VFY). Its manufacturing unit in Nagda, Madhya Pradesh, is the world's largest producer of spun-dyed specialty fibre. Post completion of the expansion of the Vilayat plant in Gujarat, it will be the largest single-location VSF facility in the world.

Grasim's climb to the top has been completely organic with unparalleled in-house expertise and technological capability. The Aditya Birla Group's acquisition of Canada-based AV Nackawic Pulp Mill (2005) and AV Terrace Bay (2012), and DomsjoFabriker AB in Sweden (2011), have helped the company expand its global supply chain and ensure the sustainability of its operations.

Grasim's Birla Cellulose leads the industry in sustainable sourcing practices. It has already achieved carbon neutral status (in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions). It is ranked #1 globally in Canopy's Hot Button Report 2020 for sustainable forestry practices and the development of next-generation solutions for alternative feedstock.

Grasim has also grown its leadership presence in several sectors. It is India's largest Chlor-Alkali, Linen and Insulators player. Through its subsidiaries, UltraTech Cement and Aditya Birla Capital, Grasim has also become India's largest cement producer and a leading diversified financial services player.

Birla Carbon # 1 in carbon black

With an annual capacity of over two million tonnes, Birla Carbon is a leading global supplier of carbon black. The company catapulted to world number 1 with the acquisition of the Atlanta-based Columbian Chemicals Company in 2011. The move doubled its capacity and extended its global footprint to span 12 countries and 16 manufacturing locations.

Birla Carbon's accent on innovation and a strategic focus on R&D has powered the company's ability to deliver sustainable solutions for its global customers in paints and coatings, inks and toners, plastics, adhesives, sealants, textile fibres, mechanical rubber goods and tyre industries globally.

Birla Carbon is a carbon black leader in sustainability and circularity. It recently launched its ContinuaTM brand of Sustainable Carbonaceous Materials, which takes circularity to a new level by using discarded end-of-life tyres as a raw material. The ContinuaTM product line is taking sustainability to scale. It can have a significant impact on reducing global carbon emissions and landfill waste.

India's leaders

UltraTech Cement # 1 in cement and concrete

UltraTech Cement is a young brand backed by a rich legacy. During the last decade, it has rapidly progressed to become a brand leader in the Indian building materials industry. Aditya Birla Group's foray into cement commenced in the mid-1980s with the setting up of its first cement plants, Vikram Cement (by Grasim) and Rajashree Cement (by Indian Rayon). The acquisition of Larsen & Toubro's cement business in 2004 significantly boosted Aditya Birla Group's play in this segment, with UltraTech Cement becoming a business entity focusing on cement.

UltraTech became India's leading cement company in 2010 with the consolidation of the Group's cement businesses with UltraTech. Through a combination of inorganic and organic expansions, UltraTech continued to grow rapidly, crossing the 100 MTPA production capacity in 2019 and becoming the third-largest cement company globally (excluding China). UltraTech has operations in four countries - India, UAE, Bahrain and Sri Lanka. UltraTech has the distinction of being the only cement company globally (outside of China) to have 100+ MTPA of cement manufacturing capacity in a single country.

With a diverse portfolio of products and solutions ranging across grey cement, white cement, RMC and building products, UltraTech has become a 360-degree building solutions provider. This has been made possible by a network of over 100,000+ channel partners and deep engagement with over 1.4 million individual home builders during their construction journey. As a result, UltraTech is today the most preferred cement brand in India and the partner of choice for large infrastructure projects.

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail # 1 in branded apparel

Spanning a retail space of 8.4 million sq.ft. (as of March 31, 2021), Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) is India's fashion powerhouse with an elegant bouquet of leading fashion brands and retail formats.

ABFRL brings together the learning and businesses of two renowned Indian fashion icons, Madura Fashion & Lifestyle, and Pantaloons, to create a synergistic core that will act as the nucleus of the future fashion businesses of the Aditya Birla Group.

As a fashion conglomerate, ABFRL has a strong network of 3,212 brand stores across the country. It is present across 31,000 multi-brand outlets and 6,800+ point of sales in department stores across India.

It has a repertoire of leading brands such as Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly and Peter England, established for over 25 years. Pantaloons is one of India's largest fast-fashion store brand. ABFRL also holds exclusive online and offline rights to the India network of California-based fast fashion brand Forever 21. The International Brands portfolio includes - The Collective, India's largest multi-brand retailer of international brands, Simon Carter and select mono-brands such as American Eagle, Ralph Lauren, Hackett London, Ted Baker and Fred Perry. Van Heusen Innerwear, Athleisure and Activewear are gradually establishing themselves as India's most innovative and fashionable brands. Apart from Jaypore and Shantanu & Nikhil, ABFRL completed two strategic investments with Sabyasachi and Tarun Tahiliani, expanding its horizon in branded ethnic wear business.

Aditya Birla Chemicals # 1 in caustic soda and specialty chemicals

Aditya Birla Chemicals began operations over six decades ago in India and has grown manifold ever since to become a prominent and diversified player globally. The growth resulting from a series of capacity expansions and acquisitions has enabled the chemicals major to attain a leadership position across various product segments. The sector comprising global chemicals, fashion yarn and insulator businesses serves 15 sectors, including water, food & beverages, power and renewables, fashion, infrastructure, composites, healthcare, consumer products, oil and mining and many more industrial applications. Aditya Birla Chemicals is the largest Chlor-Alkali player in India and amongst the top 10 globally. It is also a leading player in food-grade phosphates and specialty solution providers in epoxy. It is also the global leader in quality sulphites. In India, it is the largest manufacturer of porcelain insulators and the leader in viscose filament yarn. Driven by innovation, sustainability, operational excellence and a customer-centric approach, Aditya Birla Chemicals has set itself on a growth trajectory by bringing innovative technology into the country, partnering with global players and through acquisitions.