Section 35
Aditya Birla Group
Started as: Cotton trading
- founded
- 1857
- founder
- Shiv Narayan Birla
- headquarters
- Mumbai, Maharashtra
- 72
- Group turnover, FY25 (US$ billion, as stated by the group) — approx. · 2025
- 2,27,500+
- Employees · 2026
- 118
- Consolidated market value of listed companies, 1 June 2026 (US$ billion) — approx. · 2026
- 41
- Countries of operation · 2026
The story
The group traces its roots to 1857, when Shiv Narayan Birla began trading cotton. In 1919 G.D. Birla moved from trading into making goods, starting with a jute mill.
Aditya Vikram Birla took the group abroad from 1969, setting up plants in Thailand and other Asian countries. His son Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman since 1995, grew it mainly through large acquisitions.
The group says it has made more than 60 acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures under him, including Novelis in 2007. It now earns 42% of its revenue outside India.
Where it works today
Metals (aluminium, copper)CementFibres and chemicalsFinancial servicesFashion and retailTelecomPaintsRenewable energy
Main companies
Hindalco (Novelis) · UltraTech Cement · Grasim Industries · Aditya Birla Capital · Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail · Vodafone Idea · Birla Opus
Timeline
- 1857Shiv Narayan Birla starts trading in cotton.
- 1919G.D. Birla enters manufacturing with Birla Jute Mill.
- 1947Grasim is incorporated.
- 1958Hindalco is incorporated.
- 1969Aditya Vikram Birla sets up the group's first international venture, in Thailand.
- 2004The group acquires the cement business that becomes UltraTech Cement.
- 2007Hindalco acquires US-based Novelis for about US$6 billion.
- 2018Idea Cellular and Vodafone India merge.
- 2024The group enters paints with the Birla Opus brand.