Johnson Matthey has announced plans to supply catalyst products tailored to the Indian market as part of wider moves into Asia.

The British firm has already set up a precious metal process catalyst facility at MIDC Taloja, Maharashtra, and is now planning to cater for the burgeoning demand it has identified in the region.

L.C. Pentz, executive director of process catalysts and technologies at Johnson Matthey, said the firm was anticipating growth of around 15 per cent in the catalyst sector of the pharma industry.

"We are looking to provide process catalyst and technological services to the Indian pharmaceutical industry. What we essentially do is aid the customer in getting his desired product. In other words tailor a reaction to a customer's needs," he told Business Line.

The moves build on Johnson Matthey's existing presence in the automotive catalyst market, with an autocatalytic facility established in Gurgaon in North India.

Ultimately Mr Pentz said he was "looking at India serving as a platform for providing precious metal process catalysts for the rest of Asia".

The worldwide catalyst market is estimated at $10 billion.