1 week ago
India’s Manufacturing Exports Cluster in a Few Districts
India makes and sells many goods to other countries.
But most of these exports come from a relatively small number of districts.
Jamnagar was the biggest exporting district, helped by a very large refinery.
Kanchipuram was another major center because Apple assembles iPhones there.
Ten districts produced almost 40% of India’s manufacturing exports.
In total, 69 districts each exported more than $1 billion in manufactured goods.
Having more districts participate could help more parts of India benefit from manufacturing.
It could also reduce the risk that one disaster disrupts many exports.
The government is trying to spread export activity through programs supporting district-level products and export hubs.
India exported almost $400 billion in manufactured goods in FY26, but exports were concentrated in a small number of locations.
Ten districts accounted for nearly 40% of India’s manufacturing exports, led by Jamnagar with about $36.6 billion.
Kanchipuram ranked second, partly because Apple assembles iPhones there; Pune, Mumbai, and Bengaluru also appeared in the top 10.
Sixty-nine districts each exported more than $1 billion in manufactured goods in 2025-26 and together contributed 83% of total manufacturing exports.
The government is promoting broader participation through its One District One Product and Districts as Export Hubs initiatives.
- Who
- Indian manufacturing districts, exporters, the Ministry of Commerce, and government export initiatives.
- What
- An analysis found that India’s manufacturing exports are highly concentrated, with a small group of districts accounting for most export value.
- Where
- Across India, with Jamnagar in Gujarat and Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu among the leading districts; Pune, Mumbai, and Bengaluru were also in the top 10.
- When
- In FY26, identified in the data as 2025-26.
- Why
- Manufacturing firms cluster because of access to credit, customers, and skilled workers; the analysis also highlights the need to broaden exports to share benefits and reduce supply-chain risk.
Key facts
- Total manufacturing exports
- Almost $400 billion in FY26
- Leading district
- Jamnagar, Gujarat, with about $36.6 billion in exports
- Top-district concentration
- Ten districts accounted for close to 40% of manufacturing exports
- Districts above $1 billion
- Sixty-nine districts exceeded $1 billion each in manufacturing exports in 2025-26
- Share from those districts
- The 69 districts together accounted for 83% of total manufacturing exports
- Data source
- The Ministry of Commerce’s trade analytics portal, analyzed at the two-digit product-category level
- Government initiatives
- One District One Product and Districts as Export Hubs
Sources
Related news
The Indian Districts Dominating Exports Across Product Categories
India’s Factories Cluster in Western and Southern Industrial Belts
Lahiri urges India to diversify exports beyond five dominant states
NITI Aayog Proposes Industrial Clusters to Boost India's Global Manufacturing
Global Uncertainty Threatens India’s $1 Trillion Export Target
CII urges export diversification amid US tariff uncertainty
Gujarat Congress Seeks Drought Relief as Rainfall Deficits Persist
AI Expansion Puts Jamnagar and Thane Under Water Stress
Vadodara-Mundra Air Taxi Launches Faster Connectivity Between Industrial Hubs
Ravindra Jadeja’s Journey From Exclusion to ₹120 Crore Fortune
