With a capacity expansion of Rs 621 crores, Nandan Denim, India’s second largest and the world’s fifth largest denim fabric company is set to become Asia’s biggest denim fabric maker by June this year. Currently, the company’s capacity is 99 million meters per annum (MMPA), putting it at the second spot behind Arvind, whose capacity is 108 MMPA. If the Gujarat-based Nandan claims are to be believed, in four months its capacity will rise to 110 MMPA, making it India’s and indeed Asia’s largest denim maker.

Deepak Chiripal, CEO, Nandan Denim says, the company is at an advanced stage of completing their expansions. The denim industry in India is growing at 15 to 18 per cent a year. Several international players have begun to source denim from India due to raw material and other input advantages apart from stable economic and political environment.

Both Arvind and Nandan Denim are based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. While Nandan Denim was set up in 2004 and is a part of the Chiripal Group established in 1972, Arvind was founded in 1931 as part of the Lalbhai Group, whose first manufacturing unit, Saraspur Manufacturing Company, was set up in 1897 to produce cotton yarn.

It was Arvind’s success in the denim business that prompted the Chiripals to enter the segment. Nandan’s original capacity was only 6 MMPA, and it has gradually scaled up in the wake of growing Indian and global demand. Nandan officials said the company exports denim to 28 countries and has 3,000 employees at its facility in Gujarat.