Cabot Sanmar, a collaboration between Cabot Corporation from the USA and The Sanmar Group in India, has announced a significant investment of $25 million to expand its fumed silica manufacturing facility located in Mettur, Salem district, India. This brownfield expansion is aimed at increasing production capacity to meet the rising domestic demand for fumed silica, which is utilized in various applications such as pharmaceuticals, food, paints, personal care, and crop protection. The expansion is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2027. According to Krishna Kumar Rangachari, director of Cabot Sanmar, nearly 30% of the output will serve the pharmaceutical sector, while the remaining 70% will cater to other chemical applications, which have shown robust growth over the past decade and a half. The overall market for fumed silica is estimated to be between 9,000 and 10,000 tonnes, valued at around ₹400 crore to ₹500 crore. Sean Keohane, president and CEO of Cabot Corporation, highlighted the potential for fumed silica in emerging sectors like semiconductors and battery applications.