Explore an alternative
What could India do for your supply chain?
India is one of the world's largest manufacturing economies, with deep capability across engineering, materials and finished goods. Here's what it offers — and what to plan for.
Six reasons
buyers look to India.
India won't be the right answer for every product. For many, it is a competitive and resilient option worth testing properly.
An established industrial base
India has decades-old manufacturing clusters for engineering components, castings, forgings, textiles and furniture, supplying domestic and export customers.
Engineering depth
A large pool of engineers and skilled trades, and suppliers used to working to international drawings, standards and inspection requirements.
Supply-chain diversification
Many buyers want a second source alongside China or Europe. India offers scale and breadth without relying on a single country.
English-language business
English is widely used in business and engineering, contracts and documentation. Commercial law is rooted in a common-law tradition familiar to UK buyers.
Improving trade terms
The UK and India signed a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement in July 2025, designed to reduce tariffs on a large share of goods. We check the current duty position for your product as part of every assessment.
Competitive economics
For the right products and volumes, Indian manufacturing can be highly cost-competitive. We compare on the complete landed cost, not unit price alone.
Where things are made
Industrial clusters we work with.
Indian manufacturing is organised around regional specialisms. Knowing which cluster suits your product is the first step to finding the right supplier.
| Cluster | State | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Pune & Chakan | Maharashtra | Automotive components, precision machining, fabrication, engineering assemblies |
| Rajkot | Gujarat | Castings, forgings, pumps, machine tools and engineering parts |
| Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu | Pumps, motors, foundries, textile machinery and textiles |
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu | Automotive components, electronics and heavy engineering |
| Ludhiana | Punjab | Forgings, hand tools, bicycle and auto parts, knitwear |
| Kolhapur | Maharashtra | Foundries and machined castings |
| Tiruppur & Karur | Tamil Nadu | Knitted garments and home textiles |
| Jodhpur & Saharanpur | Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh | Solid wood furniture, joinery and wooden products |
Examples only. We source nationally based on supplier fit, not location alone.
Plan for it
What to consider.
Sourcing from India works best when the practical points are planned from the start. This is where a managed approach earns its keep.
Transit time
Sea freight to the UK and Europe typically takes several weeks. We plan production and shipping around your stock position, and air freight is available for urgent orders.
Supplier variability
Capability and quality systems vary widely between suppliers. That is why we assess suppliers against your specific product rather than relying on general claims.
Specification discipline
Clear drawings, approved samples and agreed inspection criteria matter more at a distance. We put these in place before production starts.
Minimums and tooling
Some processes need tooling or minimum batch sizes to make sense. We tell you early if volumes are likely to be a constraint.
Test it on one product
A like-for-like benchmark.
Already manufacturing in China or another market? Give us one product to benchmark. We will assess whether India offers a competitive, practical alternative.
No promise that India wins every RFQ—only that we test it properly.
What we compare
- Materials & specification
- Unit pricing & order quantity
- Samples, tooling & quality checks
- Capacity & realistic lead times
- Freight, duties & delivery terms
FAQ
Sourcing from India: common questions.
Is India cheaper than China?
Sometimes, not always. It depends on the product, materials, volumes, tooling and freight. We benchmark a product like-for-like against your current supply and tell you honestly whether India is competitive.
Does the UK–India trade agreement reduce duties on my product?
The agreement signed in July 2025 is designed to reduce or remove tariffs on many goods, but the effect depends on your product’s commodity code, rules of origin and the agreement’s implementation timetable. We check the position for your specific product.
How long does shipping from India take?
Sea freight to the UK and Europe usually takes several weeks door to door, depending on route, port and service. Air freight is faster for urgent or high-value goods. We include transit time in every quotation.
Can I keep my existing supplier and add India as a second source?
Yes. Many customers start with a single product to test India alongside their current supply before moving more volume.
Put India to the test.
Start with one product. We'll give you the full picture.