The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has set a target to triple its exports by 2030, from $22 billion in FY25 to $66 billion. However, it faces stiff competition from states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, which lead the country in export volumes. Gujarat tops the list with $116 billion in exports in FY25, accounting for 26% of the national total, while UP contributes only 5%.
To reach its target, UP would need to maintain a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 10.2%, more than double its current CAGR of 4.3% from FY15 to FY25. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated a BrahMos missile production unit in Lucknow, which is expected to contribute to defence exports and help boost the state’s overall export portfolio.
Currently, UP’s key export sectors include electronic goods ($5.3B, 24%), engineering goods ($4.4B, 20%), meat, garments, and leather. However, compared to Tamil Nadu’s $14.6B in electronics and Maharashtra’s $22B in engineering goods, UP still lags behind. The state must accelerate diversification, infrastructure upgrades, and industrial output to compete effectively with other top exporters.