Top 10 Products to Source from India in 2025: A Buyer's Guide
Introduction
India has preserved transitional crafts, culture, and skills since ages. Paralelly, the country is also advancing with time and contemporary artists adopt technology to create products. This blend is one of the top reasons why the country has been a preferred sourcing destination since the 1990s. Till date, it has a center-stage in this field due to government backup, time zone advantages, cost-effectiveness, and a highly matured infrastructural ecosystem.
Coupled with a growing emphasis on sustainable practices, competitive cost structures, and an expansive workforce, India has maintained its dominance in bulk outsourcing. Here’s proof: merchandise exports rose from $314 billion in 2013-14 to $437.10 billion in 2023-24, fueled by a strengthened manufacturing base and heightened global demand.
Textiles, leather footwear, pharmaceuticals, and Indian handicrafts are also making commendable advancements turning India an economic powerhouse. The high quality of apparel sourcing and footwear sourcing from India is attributed to the abundance of products and manufacturing facilities that exist. Further, the country’s development and several foreign regulations and trade policies have supported artisanal practices enabling firms to access culturally rich traditional products across various businesses.
1. Leather Footwear :
India is one of the largest wholesale footwear supplier globally, where premium quality, high endurance, affordable leather products are readily available. India has a strong heritage of craftsmanship and places an emphasis on sustainable practices and producing fashionable but also eco-friendly sandals, slippers, boots, and industrial safety shoes that match global standards. The country is typically known for its dyed, embossed, and textured leather.
2. Packaging Products :
In 2023-2024, India had a 8.2% growth in the domestic paper market. This encompasses environmentally friendly solutions like a zero-net future with innovation. Further, India’s robust manufacturing capabilities and commitment to sustainability make it the perfect source for packaging products. Few examples of packaging products are corrugated boxes, laminated packaging, and vacuum packaging bags to name a few.
3. Spices :
India is the largest spice-producer in the world with 12 million metric tons of production in 2024 alone. Out of this, 1.4 million metric tons were exported. The most widely produced and exported products include spices such as cardamom, chili, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, celery, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, nutmeg, mace, curry powder, as well as spice oils and oleoresins. For the years 2023-24, the value of spice exports from the country has risen to $ 4.46 billion. Chilli, cumin, turmeric, ginger, and coriander account for approximately 76% of the total production of these spices. Overall, this is one of the finest products to source from India.
4. Apparels :
India leads in maintaining a strong readymade garment industry because of its high production capacity, skilled workers, and an array of textile raw materials. Global exports from India also increased by 4.47% to $2.55 billion in April-May 2024 from $2.4 billion in April-May 2023, thus establishing the competency of the nation to fulfill international demand. India is known in the world garment industry for its advanced manufacturing services, low prices, and effective export facilities.
5. Cotton Textiles :
India is among the top cotton producers in the world, exporting large quantities, thanks to its ideal climate for cultivating the crop. With high-quality cotton, effective processing techniques, and competitive prices, India is well-positioned to meet the rising global demand for sustainable and premium cotton products, reinforcing its role as a major exporter.
6. Rice :
India is the world’s second largest producer of rice capitalizing on favorable conditions that boost its production levels. It will be a major exporter of high-quality basmati rice by 2025, known for its great flavor and fragrance, due to efficient farming methods like dry ploughing, available land resources, and a robust export framework. Rice is India’s most significant agricultural export, accounting for over 20% of total agricultural exports in the 2022-23 fiscal year.
7. Hand Embroidery Textile :
India is known for its intricate hand embroidery, and the export of embroidered textiles like sarees, scarves, and carpets is doing well in 2025.In 2024-2025 the export of carpet and other textile floor coverings accounted for US$496.18 million. Traditional techniques such as Zardozi and Chikan are held in high regard worldwide for their craftsmanship and cultural appeal which makes India a significant player in the global hand-embroidered textile market.
8. Vaccine :
India supplies 60% of the world’s vaccines and leads the world in the supply of vaccines such as DPT, BCG, and measles. Additionally, it has the highest count of plants outside the USA that are approved by the US FDA. India majorly exports drug formulations & biologicals, and these products contribute to about 75% of the total pharmaceutical exports out of India. The country also holds a significant position in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly concerning vaccines. The Indian Pharmaceutical Industry’s main USP lies in its high quality and low prices and thus India is occasionally referred to as the “Pharmacy of the World.”
9. Wooden Handicrafts :
Markets such as the US, UK, and Germany highly appraise hand-made Indian products. From intricately designed furniture to exquisite decorative items; India has a long line of wooden handicrafts which continues to be appreciated for their excellence in art form and cultural sensitivity. Indian wooden handicrafts, bolstered by talented craftsmen and a robust export network, persist in seizing global market opportunities.
10. Jewelry and Gemstones :
India’s primary exports include cut and polished diamonds, lab-grown synthetic diamonds, colored gemstones, gold jewelry (both plain and studded), as well as items made of gold, silver, and platinum. In Gujarat, Surat boasts over 450 organized jewelry manufacturers thus serving as the global center for jewelry production. These jewels are primarily imported by Western nations.
Conclusion
India houses diverse items due to its hugely diversified economy within various sectors such as textile, leather, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. Businesses can invest in these industries and may require assistance from market experts for this purpose. Here, the best procurement companies like Inductus Global can assist enterprises in categorizing the type of product they should invest in and conduct an end-to-end sourcing process.
