raw materials like wood, glass and metal. They have usage in domestic, industrial and agricultural fields. For example, plastics have given rise to revolutionary changes. A long list of by-products derived from raw petroleum has already been listed. The industry is located near Mumbai and Vadodara. Now it is broadening to other parts of the country.
Consumption of major petrochemicals was 3 million tonnes in 1995-96 and by 2002 it had risen to 6.8 million tonnes. Now there are as many as 14 mineral oil refineries in India - 3 in Assam, 2 in Maharashtra and one each in Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.