India’s engineering export sector has emerged as the backbone of the country’s foreign trade. In FY 2024-25, engineering exports reached 116.67 billion USD, leading to a 6.74%year-on-year. This milestone comes despite a challenging global economic environment and is seen as the largest contributor to India’s business exports.
For startups, this growth is more than a statistic – it indicates large -scale opportunities in many product categories from steel and industrial machinery to medical devices and aerospace components.
Understanding and identifying the sources of this development is important for India’s next-generation entrepreneurs.
Read More: How to Start Your Own Profitable Export Business?
Engineering exports at a glance
- Total Export FY 2024–25: USD 116.67 billion
- Part of engineering in overall exports: 26.67%
- Top Export Destination: USA, UAE, UK, Singapore, Germany
High-development products:
- Aircraft and spacecraft parts (+114.7%)
- Medical and Scientific Equipment (+16.2%)
- Electrical machinery (+16.2%)
- Two and three wheelers (+15.7%)
- Pump (+13.1%)
This data displays India’s change from the export of high-value, technology-intensive and diverse engineering products.

Why it matters to startup
Global demand is moving: The countries are looking for alternative suppliers outside the traditional hub like China. Startups can plug into global value chains.
Top markets are expanding: aerospace, EV components, and medical equipment are growing at double digit rates, offering high-margin opportunities.
Diversification is equal to flexibility: with the expansion of advanced industrial items with export baskets, entrepreneurs can identify top segments with high growth capacity and low entry barriers.
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Major development blocks and startup opportunities
1. Aerospace and spacecraft component (+114.7%)
- Opportunity: Construction of accurate ingredients, avionics sub-systems, composites and maintenance equipment.
- Why attractive: Make in India-Defense Initiative and Global Demand in India cost-effective aerospace solutions.
- Startup Insight: Cooperate with aerospace firms installed as Tier-II suppliers.
2. Electrical machinery and equipment (+16.2%)
- Opportunities: Produce transformer, switchgear, smart meter and EV charging system.
- Why attractive: global electrification, renewable energy integration and an increase in EV adoption.
- Startup Insight: Focus on energy-skilled components such as R&D LED niche solutions.
3. Medical and Scientific Equipment (+16.2%)
- Opportunities: Develop low -cost clinical equipment, imaging equipment parts and laboratory devices.
- Why attractive: Growing global healthcare expenses and demand for affordable equipment.
- Startup Insight: Take advantage of India’s IT and Biotech ecosystem for smart-medical devices.
4. Two and three wheelers (+15.7%)
- Opportunity: Building cheap EV scooters and special components such as batteries and motors.
- Why attractive: Demand for urbanization and global clean mobility initiative.
- Startup Insight: Export-friendly EV Markets such as Africa and ASEAN.
5. Pump, valve and industrial machinery (+13.1%)
- Opportunity: Customize pumps for agriculture, water treatment and chemical industries.
- Why attractive: infrastructure development and climate-conversion-Water management.
- Startup Insight: Develop an analog modular machinery solution for SME abroad.
- Read More: Industrial Machinery: India’s Engine of Manufacturing Growth
Import–Export Trends as Startup Triggers
Aluminium declined by ten percent and copper by eight percent, which suggests the potential for import substitution and the new recycling opportunities these metals suggest.
Non–ferrous metals example tin and nickel are evidencing increasing global demand for rare metals, for which startups can look into the processing and alloying, or further value addition.
Learning from India’s business leaders
- Ratan Tata (Tata Motors, Tata Steel): inexpensive innovation and global scaling.
- Anand Mahindra (Mahindra Group): Aerospace and Diversion in EVS.
- Baba Kalyani (Bharat Forge): Global defense and precision engineering for motor vehicle markets.
Lesson: Startups can grow globally by focusing on quality, standards and strategic partnerships.
India: Future Outlook on Export Ambitions
- Target by engineering exports for 2030 are 250 billion dollars.
- Target for 2047 is 1.25 trillion dollars.
- Aim is to achieve 8 to 10 percent global market share.
This pro-export environment can be greatly utilized by startups in green technologies, EV parts, advanced manufacturing, and medical devices.
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Suggested Business Opportunities for New Startups
This includes manufacturing EVs of motors, batteries and also charging systems, affordable wearables, and devices of medical precision focusing on low cost and exportable agro machinery such as modular pumps for developing countries.
Closed loop systems which recycle and incorporate copper and also engineering grade silicone needs to be addressed, green technology solar modules, systems to store hydrogen and also machinery of low energy consumption (India Engineering Exports).
The NPCS Can Help You
At Niir Project Consultancy Services (NPCS), we assist with turning innovative concepts into scalable industries for new firms.
Market Survey cum Detailed Techno-Economic Feasibility Reports (DPRs) regarding manufacturing methodologies, market inquiries, demand computations, process flowcharts, product mix and capacity scheduling, machinery and raw material, and complete financials and profits projections.
Also, NPCS helps entrepreneurs by doing PESTEL business location categorizing and analyzing, and advising on policies for reducing investment, and risk-return optimization for ROI (India Engineering Exports).
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India Engineering Exports: Conclusion
Spreading engineering exports from India is a model for success for entrepreneurs. There are many opportunities to pursue and innovations to make with in-demand industries such as space engineering, electric vehicles, medical gadgets, and water pumps.
The founders of startups are encouraged to:
- Identify the pioneer fast-growing segments for exports.
- Construct products that are competitive and have added value.
- Collaborate with NPCS for assistance with feasibility, financial modelling, and tactical advice.
- Take advantage of India’s engineering reputation globally to access international markets from the first day.
Thinking global and embracing the new age of startups is valuable as we aim for USD 250 billion by 2030, along with heavy corporations, for an innovative and futuristic world (India Engineering Exports).
India Engineering Exports: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Q1: Which engineering sectors in India are growing fastest for exports?
The fastest growing sectors are aerospace & spacecraft components, electrical machineries, medical & scientific instruments, two and three wheelers, pumps & industrial machineries and an ever-growing multitude more. Startups in these sectors can connect with promising international markets (India Engineering Exports).
Q2: What are the top export destinations for Indian engineering products?
India’s major engineering export destinations are USA, UAE, UK, Singapore and Germany. There are also developing markets in Africa or Latin America and ASEAN which provide great prospects for new companies (India Engineering Exports).
Q3: What are the Copyright strategies of startups for india’s engineering export market?
India Engineering Exports startups can enter by manufacturing niche, high-value products, and forming linkages with international branded firms, leveraging government programs, and consulting firms like NPCS for practical groundwork, spanning market entry, capacity, and regulatory assistance (India Engineering Exports).
Q4: What are the key challenges for India Engineering Exports startups?
Cost and regulatory domination of quality, capability, and export of value without compromise, the supply chains, and the major processes risk individual and dependent dominion. Strategic alliances and workable risk-reduction planning can offset these exposures (India Engineering Exports).
Q5: What specific policies are there to support startup companies focused on engineering exports?
The Make in India program, along with export promotion councils and tech incubation programs, offers market access, along with supportive policies, and financial incentives. Subsidy optimization, along with international compliance, can be obtained through guidance provided by the NPCS (India Engineering Exports).