Maharashtra has emerged as India’s most export-ready state, overtaking Tamil Nadu in the latest export preparedness rankings, driven by robust industrial output, upgraded logistics and proactive trade policies. The shift marks a significant development in the country’s regional export landscape, showcasing how states are competing to attract global business and strengthen their position in international markets.
The report highlights that Maharashtra’s manufacturing clusters, including those in the Mumbai–Pune–Nashik corridor and around key industrial zones, have delivered strong export performance across sectors such as automobiles, engineering goods, chemicals, textiles and pharmaceuticals. Enhanced port infrastructure, particularly at Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), has also played a central role in facilitating higher trade volumes by improving connectivity and reducing transit times.
In contrast, Tamil Nadu, long recognised for its export competitiveness in sectors like automobiles and electronics, slipped to the second position, underscoring dynamic changes in state-level trade positioning amid policy shifts, infrastructure investments and global demand patterns.
Maharashtra’s rise to the top reflects sustained efforts to bolster export infrastructure, streamline procedures and incentivise exporters, which are expected to support further trade growth. Analysts note that maintaining and improving export competitiveness will be key as states vie for investment, market share and global supply chain integration.
