Clariant's presence in India through its affiliates goes back more than five decades. Its journey began in 1947 with the founding of Sandoz Products Limited. The acquisition of the Hoechst specialty chemicals business in 1997 brought Colour-Chem Limited and its subsidiaries Vanavil Dyes & Chemicals Limited and Kundalika Investments Pvt. Limited into its fold. Thereafter, the acquisition of BTP plc in 2000 led to the integration of a fourth company BTP India Pvt. Limited into the group's operations in India.
In 2006, four of the affiliates were integrated into Colour-Chem Limited and the company was subsequently renamed Clariant Chemicals (India) Limited.