Leather industry
The growth of the leather industry in the state of Tamil Nadu is due to the large tannery base established here over the last two centuries. Currently, the annual turn over of the industrial sector including tanneries, shoe factories, garment and leather goods making units is Rs.4,500 crores, of which Rs.2,750 crores is the income from export. During 2000-2001, export of leather and leather products reached Rs.9,000 crore as against a foreign exchange of Rs.6,952 crores during 1999-2000. According to the Tamil Nadu New Industrial Policy 2003, the state accounts for 70 per cent of leather tanning capacity in India and 38 per cent of leather footwear and components. The exports from Tamil Nadu are valued at about US $ 762 million, which accounts for 42 per cent of Indian leather exports.

Paper industry
In the year 1979, Government of Tamil Nadu established Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited as a public limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. Commencing production in 1984, with the support of Government of Tamil Nadu, the company has made rapid strides and has emerged as the largest paper mill in India at a single location. With the on-going expansion plan to increase paper production capacity from the present 2.45 lakh tons to 4 lakh tons per annum, TNPL is poised to become a Rs.2000 crores company by 2011-12.

Chemical & Plastic industry
Government of Tamil Nadu undertaking company established during April 1978, has completed more than three decades in the mineral development. The main purpose of the organization is to exploit, process and marketing of granite raw blocks, granite products, major minerals and mineral based products. TAMIN is excavating Black and Colour Granites, Limestone, Graphite, Silica Sand, Vermiculite, Quartz, Feldspar. It manufactures value added products like Polished Granite Slabs, Granite monuments, Granite kitchen items, Granite Tiles, Graphite Flakes, Exfoliated Vermiculite, Indian Standard Sand etc.

Cotton textile industry
Textiles, one of the major industries in Tamil Nadu, is characterized by its capacity to provide large-scale employment and is a major source of foreign exchange. It is very significant to note that the textile industries in Tamil Nadu continue to be spinning oriented and that 50 per cent of the spinning mills in the country with 36 per cent of the installed capacity are located in the state.

Handlooms and power looms
Handloom is the traditional industry of Tamil Nadu providing direct employment to around 40 lakh People.  Tamilnadu contributes about one third of the total textile production in the country. The State Textile Industry is predominantly cotton based. Some of the textile products from Tamilnadu which are universally recognized for the excellent craftsmanship and their uniqueness are Kancheepuram Silk Sarees, Bhavani Carpet (Jamukalam), Madurai Sungadi Sarees, Coimbatore Kora Sarees, Paramakudi Sarees, Salem Silk Dhoties, Erode and Karur Home Textiles, Tirupur Knitwear Garments, etc.

Apart from providing one of the basic necessities of life, the textile industry also plays a pivotal role through its contribution to industrial output, employment generation, and the export earnings. The textile industry contributes around 4 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounts for 12 percent to the country’s export earnings. Further, the Textile Industry provides direct employment to over 3.50 crore people. Thus, the growth and all round development of this industry has a bearing on the improvement of our economy.

Sugar industry
Sugar Industry in Tamil Nadu is an important agro based industry. It is a major industry, which directly helps to improve the economic conditions of the agriculturists in the rural areas. Tamil Nadu is one of the leading producers of Sugar in the country and its contribution is about 10% of the country’s total production of Sugar.  During 2009-10 crushing season all the Sugar Mills in Tamil Nadu have programmed to crush about 130.01 lakh metric tonnes of cane and to produce 11.92 lakh metric tonnes of Sugar with an average recovery of 9.17%. During 2008-09, 39 Mills in Tamil Nadu have crushed 165.72 lakh metric tonnes of cane and produced 15.95 lakh metric tonnes of Sugar with an average recovery of 9.63%.

Fertiliser industry
The performance of the fertilizer industry in Tamil Nadu has been passive during the review year although the installed capacities of the plants were on the increase by 21.70 per cent from 10.97 lakh tonnes in 1999-2000 to 13.35 lakh tonnes in 2001-02 due to modernization.

Cement industry
Cement production and consumption continued to grow despite the general recession in economy. India is one of the largest cement producers and ranked second in the world with an annual production capacity of 181 million tonnes. The construction industry in Tamil Nadu is growing at a tremendous pace annually, driven by growing investments in the infrastructure sector. Demand for cement is more in the State of Tamil Nadu in view of the increased construction activities and infrastructure developmental works by consuming 11.5 million tonnes of cement.

Cement manufacturers in Tamil Nadu have doubled their production capacity from 14.56 million tonnes to 28.68 million tonnes per annum which is the highest capacity addition in the country during the last 3 years.  Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation Limited (TANCEM) is one among the major cement producers in Tamil Nadu operating two cement units, one at Ariyalur and another at Alangualm. Asbestos Cement Sheet Plant at Alangulam and Stoneware Pipe Unit at Vridhachalam are the other units of TANCEM.