India’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) recorded an 11.8% year-on-year increase in exports during the financial year 2025-26, reaffirming their role as a key driver of the country’s export-led growth strategy. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, exports from SEZs reached approximately ₹16.89 lakh crore in FY2025-26, compared with ₹15.11 lakh crore in the previous fiscal year.
The strong export performance was supported by robust shipments from sectors such as information technology and IT-enabled services (IT/ITeS), engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, electronics, gems and jewellery, chemicals, and textiles. The continued expansion of manufacturing and service activities within SEZs, coupled with improved global demand in several product categories, contributed to the double-digit growth.
SEZs also remained a major destination for investment and employment generation. The government said cumulative investments in operational SEZs have crossed ₹7.5 lakh crore, while the zones continue to provide direct employment to more than 3 million people. The steady inflow of investments into export-oriented industries has strengthened India’s manufacturing ecosystem and enhanced the country’s competitiveness in global markets.
Officials attributed the positive performance to policy measures aimed at improving the ease of doing business, simplifying regulatory procedures, and developing world-class infrastructure within SEZs. The government has also been working to align the SEZ framework with changing global trade patterns and domestic industrial priorities to ensure sustained export growth.
The increase in SEZ exports comes at a time when India is expanding its network of free trade agreements and promoting sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, renewable energy equipment, and advanced manufacturing under initiatives including ‘Make in India’ and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes. These initiatives are expected to further strengthen export-oriented production in SEZs.
With exports maintaining strong momentum despite global economic uncertainties, the government expects SEZs to continue playing a vital role in achieving India’s long-term trade objectives. Policymakers are also considering reforms to modernize the SEZ ecosystem, attract greater foreign investment, and integrate the zones more closely with global value chains, positioning them as strategic hubs for manufacturing and international trade.
