Beyond the gateway: West Bengal has the products, but needs an export strategy
Mint - Opinion · Published 10 November 2026 · Last updated
West Bengal requires a targeted, district-wise export strategy focusing on sector-specific upgrades, logistics improvements, and neighbourhood integration to reverse its declining export trajectory.
Key points
- West Bengal's goods exports in 2025-26 stood at $12.88 billion, falling below the $13.9 billion recorded in 2021-22.
- The state ranks ninth among Indian states with 2.92% of the country's merchandise exports, trailing Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
- State finance minister Swapan Dasgupta presented a budget featuring ₹5,000 crore for industry incentives on 22 June.
- Kolkata, Howrah, and East Midnapore accounted for about 57% of state exports in 2022-23 according to official trade data.
- US tariffs peaked at 50% in August 2025, severely impacting the state's leather, marine products, and engineering goods.
- Daily truck movements at the Petrapole land port dropped from 600-700 to under 200 within a week following May 2025 curbs.
- The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port handled about 254,000 containers in the first quarter of 2026-27, marking an 8.4% year-on-year increase.
- The Bantala leather hub currently employs about 500,000 people, underscoring the labour-intensive nature of the state's export sectors.
Background
- The state government introduced an export policy in 2023 with the stated objective of doubling exports within a decade.
- NITI Aayog's Export Preparedness Index 2024 classified West Bengal among the 'challengers' category of large states.
- Trade tracking authorities reported a 10% Section 301 duty applied to most Indian goods starting 24 July.
- The state government recently dropped plans for the long-delayed Tajpur deepsea port in favour of Dadanpatrabar in June.
Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.
Original report: Mint - Opinion