Corporate Milestones

History of Bayer in India

Since 1896, we have been partnering and progressing with India. Over the years, we have made significant contributions towards advancing agriculture, public health and sustainability in the country. With this same passion, hope and confidence, we look forward to Bayer's future in India.

1896 – 1945:

Globally, the Company is founded on August 1, 1863.The first connection with India was made in the 1880s with the introduction of benzidine dyestuffs through casual orders from Indian branches of German and British export houses. It was only in 1888-89, however, that the prelude to Bayer’s long association with India began with a tour by a member of the Supervisory Board, Henry Theodor Boettinger, to gauge the market potential for dyestuffs and pharmaceutical products.

• 1896: First wholly owned subsidiary of Bayer in Asia “Farbenfabriken Bayer and Co. Ltd.” is set-up in Mumbai
• 1904: Bayer delegates own commercial and technical personnel to expand business, introduce new products and supervise local offices, agents and depots in India
• 1906-1910: Imports of pharma products commence. Volume increases with establishment of pharma offices in Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi and Madras

1946 – 1969:

Post India’s Independence, the study of long-range strategies for production facilities commenced to consolidate Bayer’s future in India, taking into consideration the Indian Government’s 5-Year Plan objectives and projections. This period also witnessed the set-up of Bayer’s listed entity.

• 1958: First facility for formulation of Bayer pesticides begins in Bombay at a small plant acquired by Bayer’s partner 
• 1958: Bayer-Agrochem Pvt. Ltd. was incorporated on September 9, 1958. Today, it is known as Bayer CropScience Limited and is the listed entity for Bayer in India
• 1959: Commissioning of dyestuff factory (later Colour-Chem Ltd.) at Thane, Bombay
• 1961: Distribution of pesticides transferred to Bayer Agrochem. Field Advisory Service organization is rapidly expanded to train farmers in correct usage of pesticides
• 1963: The name of Bayer Agrochem changes to Bayer (India) Ltd  
• 1967: Bayer begins producing rubber chemicals in India  
• 1969: The company commences operations of a major production unit in Thane

1970-1996:

India launched the "Green Revolution" in 1970—the very year that Bayer began operating a major plant at Thane, near Bombay. India wanted to become self-sufficient instead of having to rely on imports of agricultural products. This policy soon made it possible for India to produce surplus quantities of wheat, rice and cotton that could be exported. Bayer ran its operations in the country according to the principle that Germany's stringent safety standards must be observed all over the world.

• 1970: The Head Office of Bayer is relocated at Express Towers, Nariman Point, the new business centre of Bombay
• 1990: Set up of a production unit at Vapi (earlier called Mitsu by the Bilakhia Group) for the manufacture of intermediates and agrochemicals which is today known as Bayer Vapi 
• 1991: Bayer opened a new formulating plant for the production of Folidol Dust in Himatnagar, Gujarat  
• 1995: 
  • Board member Dr. Walter Wenninger inaugurates the new Head Office called ‘Bayer House in India’ at Powai, Mumbai with state-of-the-art office equipment and good social facilities
  • The name of Miles India Ltd. is changed to Bayer Diagnostics India Ltd., which becomes a member of the Bayer Group in India, with the factory and registered office location at Baroda
  • Foundation of a site for seed processing and storage at Toopran by ProAgro Seeds, which was later acquired by Bayer in 2002
• 1996:
  • Set up of a maize conditioning plant at Shameerpet situated at approximately 40 kms from Hyderabad, in the state of Telangana, now a Bayer site  
  • Set up of an agrochemical manufacturing site at Silvassa, located in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu in Western India  
  • Bayer celebrates the centennial anniversary of its presence in India