How to Source Products from India by Region and Industry: A Complete Guide

April 10, 2025

If you’re wondering how to source products from India by region and industry, you’re not alone. India has become one of the world’s most promising sourcing destinations, offering competitive costs, skilled labor, and manufacturing clusters across textiles, electronics, plastics, metalwork, solar, and more.

But India is vast and diverse. Knowing where to source each product type — and how to navigate suppliers in those regions — is essential for building a reliable, cost-effective supply chain.

This guide from India2West breaks down the major sourcing regions in India, product categories to target, and how to manage your sourcing journey with confidence.

Why Source from India?

Competitive Production Costs

As of 2023, India’s average manufacturing wages remained under $250/month, while China’s exceeded $600/month (Statista). This makes India especially attractive for labor-intensive categories like garments, home goods, and consumer electronics.

Strategic Government Support

India’s Make in India and PLI (Production Linked Incentive) schemes have driven major investments across 14 sectors, including electronics, solar, and textiles (Invest India).

Language & Legal Accessibility

With a large English-speaking workforce and a common law-based legal system, India is more accessible than many low-cost countries for Western buyers.

How to Source Products from India by Region and Industry

Understanding India’s regional manufacturing strengths is key to a successful sourcing strategy. Each state or city tends to specialize in certain types of manufacturing, based on the availability of raw materials, skilled labor, and government-supported industrial clusters. By aligning your product category with the right region, you can reduce costs, improve quality, and streamline logistics.

Here’s a breakdown by region and product category to help guide your sourcing strategy:

1. Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu): Apparel & Knitwear

Tiruppur is widely known as the “Knitwear Capital of India.” It’s home to over 10,000 garment manufacturing units and accounts for more than 50% of India’s cotton knitwear exports. The region supports sustainable and organic manufacturing practices, making it a favorite for global brands like H&M, Zara, and Decathlon. Commonly sourced products include T-shirts, polos, leggings, activewear, and baby clothing.

2. Surat (Gujarat): Fabrics & Synthetics

Surat is the second-largest textile hub in India, producing over 40 million meters of fabric every day. It excels in man-made fibers such as polyester, viscose, rayon, and blends. If you’re looking to source synthetic fabrics, digital printed textiles, or ethnic wear fabrics at scale, Surat offers both massive production capacity and competitive pricing.

3. Rajkot (Gujarat): Engineering Components & Metal Fabrication

Rajkot is a key industrial city that caters to the automotive, agriculture, and industrial machinery sectors. It is especially strong in CNC machining, die casting, precision components, and metal forging. Many of India’s Tier-2 and Tier-3 automotive component suppliers are based here, exporting to clients in Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S.

4. Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh): Stainless Steel & Handicrafts

Known as “Pital Nagri” (Brass City), Moradabad is a top destination for handicrafts, metal décor, kitchenware, and stainless-steel goods. The city is a preferred sourcing region for buyers in the home décor, kitchenware, and gifting industries due to its high level of artisanal skill combined with scalable manufacturing units.

5. Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh): Leather & Footwear

Kanpur is a leading center for leather tanning and finished leather goods. The city produces belts, gloves, equestrian products, bags, and footwear for several premium European and American brands. Kanpur’s leather industry is supported by government-approved tanneries and skilled artisans capable of handling both large-volume orders and custom development.

6. Noida & Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh): Electronics & White Goods

Thanks to its proximity to New Delhi and inclusion in India’s electronics manufacturing corridor, Noida has attracted major electronics manufacturers such as Samsung, Lava, and Dixon. The area is ideal for sourcing smartphones, circuit boards, televisions, LED lights, and even household appliances.

7. Pune (Maharashtra): Solar Equipment, Plastics & Precision Manufacturing

Pune is home to some of India’s best infrastructure for solar panel assembly, industrial automation, automotive parts, and injection-molded plastics. The city also serves as a supply base for many foreign-owned manufacturing firms, making it a strategic sourcing location for technical products.

8. Ludhiana (Punjab): Hosiery & Fasteners

Ludhiana is a significant exporter of knitted garments, especially sweaters, thermals, and sportswear. It’s also known for industrial fasteners and bicycle parts, serving both domestic and global markets.

9. Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu): Pumps, Castings & Engineering Equipment

Coimbatore is one of the largest industrial cities in South India, known for textile machinery, cast iron components, motors, and pumps. It has strong clusters for engineering goods and a well-developed network of machine shops and foundries.

10. Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Footwear, Automotives & Electronics

Chennai’s well-established ports and logistics infrastructure make it a great location for export-focused industries. It is especially strong in leather shoes, automotive components, and electronic sub-assemblies.

Key Product Categories for India Sourcing

To understand how to source products from India by region and industry, it’s helpful to align your category with the right local ecosystem. Here are the top sourcing categories:

  • Textiles & Apparel – Cotton, knits, denim, and embroidered garments are available at scale. Popular export regions include Tiruppur, Delhi NCR, and Kolkata.
  • Home Decor & Handicrafts – India exports brassware, wood items, and handmade home décor globally — with support from both government incentives and artisan networks.
  • Metal & Industrial Hardware – Machined components, fasteners, forged parts, and tools are readily available from Rajkot, Ludhiana, and Coimbatore.
  • Plastics & Packaging – Injection-molded parts, PET bottles, and food-grade packaging can be sourced cost-effectively from Gujarat and Maharashtra.
  • Solar & Renewable Energy Products – India is the 4th largest solar market globally. Pune, Bengaluru, and Noida offer solar modules, mounting structures, and battery systems.
  • Electronics & White Goods – Smartphones, LED lighting, power supplies, and household electronics can be sourced from Indian contract manufacturers working with global brands.
  • Leather Goods – Sourcing leather belts, bags, and gloves? Focus on Kanpur and Chennai for high-quality output and competitive pricing.
  • Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Products – From jute bags to bamboo utensils and natural fibers — India offers unique, planet-friendly alternatives for eco-conscious brands.

How India2West Supports Regional Sourcing Success

At India2West, we help clients not just find suppliers — we help them build supply chains. Here’s how we support your success:

Western-Managed, Locally Executed

We bridge the gap between international expectations and Indian capabilities with Western leadership and local sourcing teams in India.

Verified Supplier Network

We only work with vetted factories — including ISO-certified manufacturers across textiles, electronics, plastics, and solar.

Regional Matching by Category

We don’t just find “a” supplier — we match your product needs with the right region, production method, and vendor capacity.

In-House Quality Control

India2West performs regular in-process inspections and pre-shipment checks, tailored to your standards.

End-to-End Visibility

From design to delivery, we handle RFQs, sampling, auditing, logistics, and compliance — all in one place.

Explore our sourcing services in India

Final Thoughts

India’s strength as a global manufacturing hub lies in its regional specialization. Whether you’re sourcing metal castings from Rajkot, woven fabrics from Surat, or solar panels from Pune — knowing where to go is key.

By understanding how to source products from India by region and industry, you can reduce costs, improve lead times, and build a more resilient supply chain.

India2West is here to help you do exactly that — with hands-on support, strategic sourcing expertise, and decades of experience across India and Asia.

Talk to our sourcing experts to start sourcing from the right region, with the right partner.

Posted in Product Sourcing