Eveready Industries India Ltd announced on Wednesday, April 22, the commissioning of India's first alkaline battery manufacturing facility in Jammu. According to reports from The Hindu BusinessLine, the greenfield plant was inaugurated by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and represents a significant expansion of the company's manufacturing capabilities. The facility has been developed as a greenfield project with the inauguration carried out by the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, in the presence of senior company leadership.
The new facility has been designed with an installed capacity of 456 million units annually, with a peak production capacity of about 360 million alkaline batteries. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, CEO Anirban Banerjee announced ambitious growth targets, stating the company aims to increase its market share in India's alkaline battery segment to around 25% in terms of value over the next three years, up from the current 16% market share. The plant is strategically positioned to capitalize on the alkaline battery segment's growth rate of over 20%, while the carbon zinc dry cell battery segment grows at a more modest 2-3% annually. The facility will support both domestic and export markets, including opportunities in white labelling as the company expands its presence in the premium alkaline segment.
The Jammu facility represents a significant step toward complete import substitution for alkaline batteries, with CEO Banerjee confirming that the company will stop completely importing any finished goods for alkaline batteries. While raw material parts will continue to be sourced from outside due to limited domestic availability, localized production of finished goods is expected to deliver around 10% improvement in margins for the alkaline battery segment. This strategic move aligns with India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' vision and positions the company as the only domestic manufacturer in this fast-growing segment.
The Indian dry cell battery market is currently estimated at ₹4,000 crore, with carbon zinc dry cell batteries accounting for ₹3,400 crore of this total. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, the alkaline battery segment currently represents 15% of the total market, while carbon zinc dry cell batteries dominate at 85%. However, CEO Banerjee projects this mix will shift to 80-20 in favor of alkaline batteries over the next two to three years, driven by increasing adoption of high drain devices across India. The company, which currently holds over 52% market share in the dry cell battery segment, believes the Jammu facility will provide the leverage to accelerate its alkaline segment expansion.
CEO Anirban Banerjee described the commissioning as a significant milestone for the company and India's evolving energy landscape, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. The plant will support the company's focus on building future-ready, premium energy solutions while contributing to the country's self-reliance in manufacturing. The facility aligns with India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' vision and is expected to generate over 500 direct and indirect jobs in the region at full capacity. On Wednesday, shares of Eveready Industries India Ltd jumped 8.29% to ₹342.10 on BSE, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company's strategic expansion into premium battery manufacturing and its commitment to supporting India's manufacturing self-reliance initiatives.
