The Kerala Minerals & Metals

Name

The Kerala Minerals & Metals

Legal name

The Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited

Website

https://kmml.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Chemical Manufacturing (Titanium Dioxide Pigments)

NAICS

Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513), Ground or Treated Mineral and Earth Manufacturing (327992)

SIC

Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810), Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Plasticizers & Additives (Commodity Grade) (IMAEAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Kaolin & Industrial Clay Mining (Bentonite, Ball Clay, Fuller’s Earth) (IMAKAGAJ)

Keywords

• Titanium dioxide pigments
• Titanium sponge production
• Beach sand minerals
• Rutile grade pigments
• Industrial chemical manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kollam

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Titanium Dioxide Pigment Sales: KMML produces and sells KEMOX branded Titanium Dioxide pigments (RC 800, RC 802, RC 804, RC 808, RC 813, RC 822 grades) for paints, coatings, plastics, papers, inks, foods, medicines, cosmetics, and toothpaste industries. Primary revenue stream.
2. Mineral Products Sales: Sale of mineral products including Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon, Sillimenite from the Mineral Separation Unit.
3. Titanium Sponge Sales: Production and sale of Titanium Sponge (500 TPY capacity) for aerospace and defense applications. ISRO buys back 65% of high purity Aerospace Grade Sponge; commercial grade sold directly by KMML.
4. Industrial Gases Sales: Sale of high purity oxygen (99.98% pure, 50 TPD) and PSA plant oxygen (95-96% purity, 300 NM3/hr).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KMML is India's only integrated manufacturer of Rutile grade Titanium Dioxide pigments via the Chloride Route, producing KEMOX-branded TiO2 grades (RC 800, RC 802, RC 804, RC 808, RC 813, RC 822, RC 829) for paints, coatings, plastics, paper, inks, food, pharma, cosmetics, and toothpaste industries. The company also produces Titanium Sponge (Kroll Process, technology from DMRL-DRDO) for aerospace and defense, beach sand minerals (Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon, Sillimenite), Nano TiO2 pigment, Titanium Oxychloride, Iron Bricks from byproduct, and high-purity industrial oxygen.

Product overview

The Kerala Minerals & Metals Limited (KMML) operates as an integrated titanium dioxide manufacturing facility with mining, mineral separation, synthetic rutile, and pigment production capabilities. The core product portfolio consists of KEMOX-branded titanium dioxide pigments in multiple grades (RC 800, RC 800 PG, RC 802, RC 813, RC 822+, RC 808, RC 804, RC 829) designed for coatings, plastics, and industrial applications. The company also produces Nano TiO2 pigment and Titanium Oxychloride as specialty products. Complementing the pigment business is a comprehensive mineral separation operation producing Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon, and Sillimenite from beach sands. The 2011-commissioned Titanium Sponge Plant enables production of aerospace-grade titanium sponge using Kroll process technology, making India the 7th country to produce this strategic material. Iron Bricks are produced as an environmental byproduct from iron oxide. The company is developing Pearlescent Pigments as a future product line.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KEMOX: Brand name for titanium dioxide pigment grades including RC 800, RC 800 PG, RC 802, RC 813, RC 822, RC 808, RC 804

Products and services

• KEMOX RC 800 Standard grade rutile titanium dioxide pigment for general coating and plastic applications, sold to industrial manufacturers in paints, coatings, plastics, paper, and related industries.
• KEMOX RC 800 PG Improved titanium dioxide grade with enhanced dispersibility for plastic applications, targeted at plastic product manufacturers requiring ease of dispersion in polymer matrices.
• KEMOX RC 802 Titanium dioxide pigment grade engineered for specific industrial applications, sold to industrial buyers requiring tailored pigment properties.
• KEMOX RC 813 TiO2 grade optimized for flat coatings with improved in-process performance, targeted at industrial coatings manufacturers.
• KEMOX RC 822+ Improved TiO2 grade combining outstanding durability, gloss retention, and high tint strength for coating applications, including automotive and industrial coatings.
• KEMOX RC 808 TiO2 grade with superior gloss and tint retention for automotive and other coating applications, targeted at high-performance coating manufacturers.
• KEMOX RC 804 Hydrophobic TiO2 grade with superior lacing resistance for high-end plastic applications including engineering plastics.
• KEMOX RC 829 Universal TiO2 grade combining excellent optical properties and good durability for the broadest range of applications across multiple industrial segments.
• Nano Titanium Dioxide Pigment Nano-scale titanium dioxide pigment developed in-house for specialized applications. First of its kind in India. Used in advanced industrial applications requiring nano-scale pigment properties.
• Titanium Oxychloride Chemical compound derived from the titanium dioxide production process for industrial applications, produced as part of KMML's specialty chemical portfolio.
• Titanium Sponge Titanium sponge intermediate product for titanium metal production. KMML operates India's first titanium sponge plant (500 TPY capacity) using Kroll process technology developed by DMRL-DRDO. Supplied to VSSC/ISRO (aerospace grade) and commercial customers.
• Ilmenite Iron titanium oxide mineral separated from beach sands, serving as raw material for titanium dioxide pigment production. Also sold to industrial customers.
• Rutile Titanium dioxide mineral separated from beach sands, used in various industrial applications including welding electrodes, ceramics, and pigment production.
• Zircon Zirconium silicate mineral separated from beach sands, used in ceramics, refractories, and other industrial applications.
• Sillimenite Aluminium silicate mineral separated from beach sands, used in aluminum and ceramic industries for high-temperature refractory applications.
• Iron Bricks Construction bricks manufactured from iron oxide byproduct of the titanium dioxide manufacturing process, enabling environmental waste management and circular economy. Sold to construction industry buyers.
• Industrial Gases (Oxygen) High purity oxygen (99.98% pure at 50 TPD) and PSA plant oxygen (95-96% purity at 300 NM3/hr) sold to industrial gas buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Production capacity being increased from 40000 TPA to 60000 TPA pigment production
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature13 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Kerala Public Enterprises Selection and Recruitment Board (KPESRB)minorOthers · 31 October 2025Recruitment to various permanent positions at the Titanium Pigment Unit through KPESRB.
• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC/ISRO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2011Joint venture for Titanium Sponge Plant (500 TPY). VSSC fully funded the Rs. 143.11 crore project. ISRO developed technology requirements and buys back 65% of high purity Aerospace Grade Sponge for space programmes. Prime Minister's Principal Secretary personally monitored the project.
• Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL/DRDO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2011DMRL developed the Kroll Process technology for titanium sponge production after twenty years of continuous R&D and established an experimental facility at Hyderabad. Provides ongoing technical backup for magnesium recovery from MgCl2 byproduct.
• Kerala State Productivity CouncilminorOthers · 26 November 2010Instituted Performance Excellence Award and Award for Pollution Abatement Initiatives awarded to KMML.
• Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned memorandum of understanding for a Rs. 5,000 crore joint venture for manufacturing titanium sponge near KMML facility.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Venator Materials: Global TiO2 and performance additives supplier serving coatings, plastics, and specialty applications. Comparable in chloride/sulfate route pigment production and specialty-grade strategy to KMML's KEMOX specialty grades.
• Lomon Billions Group: China's largest TiO2 producer and one of the world's top three, with significant chloride-route capacity. Competes with KMML in global Rutile-grade TiO2 pigment markets and represents the principal low-cost competitive threat.
• Travancore Titanium Products Limited: Another Kerala-based PSU producing TiO2 pigment (sulfate route) from beach sand minerals. KMML's MD N.R. Subramaniam was also posted as MD here. Closest direct domestic competitor and co-state PSU peer.
• Tronox Holdings: One of the world's largest TiO2 producers with vertically integrated mineral sands operations (mining through pigment). Directly comparable to KMML's integrated ilmenite→synthetic rutile→pigment value chain, only at much larger global scale.
• The Chemours Company: Spun off from DuPont, Chemours is a global leader in TiO2 (Ti-Pure brand) using the chloride route — the same process KMML employs. Directly comparable technology and end-market exposure (coatings, plastics, paper).
• Kronos Worldwide: Vertically integrated TiO2 pigment manufacturer using both sulfate and chloride routes, serving similar coatings, plastics, and paper markets. Closely comparable in process technology and customer base to KMML.
• Tayca Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of TiO2 pigments and surface-treated specialty grades, including nano-TiO2 products. Comparable to KMML's specialty and nano TiO2 development pipeline and coatings-focused grade strategy.
• Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha (ISK): Japanese TiO2 producer using both sulfate and chloride routes, with strong specialty-grade portfolio. Comparable in process diversification and specialty pigment strategy to KMML's KEMOX grade lineup.

Regional players

• Cinkarna Celje: Slovenian TiO2 producer using the sulfate route, serving European coatings and industrial markets. Comparable in end-market exposure (coatings, paints, plastics) but operates in a different geography than KMML.

Emerging players

• CNNC Hua Yuan Titanium Dioxide Co. Chinese TiO2 producer under CNNC with significant chloride-route capacity expansion. Comparable chloride-route technology focus and emerging competitive pressure on global Rutile-grade markets where KMML exports.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kmmlofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kmmlofficial

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Kerala Minerals & Metals