Gujarat retains India’s Top Exporting State in 2025-26 despite Global Trade Challenges

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat has once again emerged as India’s leading exporting state during FY 2025-26, reinforcing its position as a key driver of the country’s international trade. Despite a challenging global economic environment, the state contributed more than one-fourth of India’s total exports, highlighting the resilience and strength of its industrial and logistics ecosystem.

According to data released by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Gujarat recorded exports worth USD 110.63 billion during the fiscal year, accounting for 25.6 percent of India’s total exports. The state maintained a significant lead over other exporting regions, with Maharashtra securing the second position with exports of approximately USD 70 billion.

While Gujarat continued to dominate the national export landscape, the state witnessed a 4.9 percent year-on-year decline in export value compared to FY 2024-25. The moderation was largely attributed to evolving global trade dynamics, tariff-related pressures in major overseas markets, and softer prices of key export commodities.

Industry observers noted that stable crude oil prices and the prolonged weakness in global diamond markets impacted the overall export valuation, particularly in sectors that traditionally contribute significantly to Gujarat’s export basket.

Gujarat’s sustained leadership is widely credited to its robust industrial base, world-class infrastructure, extensive port network, business-friendly policies, and strong entrepreneurial culture. These structural advantages have enabled the state to remain a preferred manufacturing and export hub for a wide range of industries.

The state’s export performance continues to be anchored by its petroleum and petrochemical sectors. Jamnagar retained its status as Gujarat’s largest exporting district, followed by Ahmedabad, Surat, and Kutch, reflecting the importance of refining, manufacturing, and port-led economic activities in driving outbound trade.

Apart from petroleum products, Gujarat has built a diversified export portfolio that includes pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, agrochemicals, ceramics, iron and steel products, textiles, plastics, pearls, and semi-precious stones.

Experts highlight that the state’s extensive refining capacity, coupled with the growth of petrochemical clusters in industrial regions such as Dahej and Vadodara, has helped create a strong downstream manufacturing ecosystem. These developments have significantly enhanced Gujarat’s ability to produce value-added products and cater to global demand.

The expansion of industrial clusters and export-oriented manufacturing has also enabled Gujarat to strengthen its presence across international markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The state’s chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, and plastics industries continue to gain traction in these regions, contributing to a more balanced and diversified export profile.

Despite headwinds arising from tariff barriers in certain key markets, exporters benefited from improved competitiveness due to currency movements during the year. Industry stakeholders believe that Gujarat’s strong infrastructure, strategic coastal location, and diversified industrial ecosystem will continue to support its export growth trajectory in the coming years.

As India seeks to expand its footprint in global trade, Gujarat’s continued dominance underscores the critical role of integrated manufacturing, efficient logistics, and policy-driven industrial development in enhancing the country’s export competitiveness.