India has always been a nation that lives sport — from the wrestling akharas of ancient India to its growing dominance in global arenas. Yet when it comes to manufacturing the equipment that makes sport possible, the country punches well below its weight. With a global sports equipment market valued at US$ 140 billion today and set to nearly double by 2036, India’s 0.5% export share tells the story of a sector rich in potential but constrained by structural inertia.
A new NITI Aayog report lays out a ₹7,500 crore blueprint to change that — ambitiously targeting US$ 8.1 billion in exports and 54 lakh new jobs within a decade. The window is open. The question is whether India can move fast enough to climb through it.
India’s association with sport is deep-rooted and enduring, tracing back to ancient times. Long before modern stadiums and scoreboards, physical excellence was expressed through traditional wrestling akharas, the precision of archery, and indigenous games such as kabaddi and kho-kho—practices embedded in the country’s cultural and civilisational fabric since the Vedic era.
In India, sport has never been merely a form of recreation; it has long symbolised strength, resilience, community, and identity. This momentum is poised to grow stronger as India enters a new phase of global sporting engagement. With ambitions to host the Commonwealth Games in the coming decade and an active bid for the Olympic Games, sport is increasingly being recognised not just as a source of national pride, but also as a strategic driver of economic growth and industrial development.
Sports goods: Global market size, composition and growth trends
The sports goods industry spans a diverse array of products, including apparel, footwear, equipment, accessories, and infrastructure, addressing the full spectrum of athletes’ needs. Within this ecosystem, sports equipment plays a critical role, forming the backbone of sporting activity by enabling both professional competitions and grassroots participation across schools and clubs.
As per the NITI Aayog report titled “Realising the Export Potential of India’s Sports Equipment Manufacturing Sector”, the global sports goods market—covering apparel, footwear, equipment, and accessories—was valued at around US$ 700 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.6%, surpassing US$ 1 trillion by 2036.
Within this, sports equipment segment accounts for nearly 20% of the overall US$ 700 billion sports goods market, with a current valuation of around US$ 140 billion. It is projected to grow to approximately US$ 283 billion by 2036, expanding at a CAGR of 6%.
The segment is largely dominated by fitness and strength equipment, which holds a 33% share (including products such as treadmills), followed closely by ball game equipment at 32% (such as footballs). Athletic training equipment constitutes about 14% of the market, while racket and net-based sports equipment accounts for roughly 10%.
Global trade landscape and India’s position
Global exports of sports goods stood at approximately US$ 132 billion in 2024, with sports equipment contributing about US$ 52 billion. It is majorly led by gym and athletic equipment (27%) and bicycles (17%) as the largest export categories, followed by leg pads, nets, bats, and golf gear.
China dominates this segment, holding a 40–50% share across categories, while other key exporters include the United States, Taiwan, Germany, and Vietnam. Beyond China’s dominance, the global sports goods market is relatively dispersed. The United States remains the largest consumer as well as the leading importer of sports goods, followed by key European markets such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. India also continues to depend on imports in this segment.
Notably, although India and Vietnam had similar export shares in 2013, Vietnam has since tripled its exports, while India’s growth has stagnated. Vietnam’s success is attributed to its
- Ecosystem-driven manufacturing model,
- Strong partnerships with global brands,
- Effective use of free trade agreements,
- Cost-efficient sourcing of raw materials from China, and
- Coordinated policy support;
(An approach India could emulate to boost its competitiveness.)
Table: Top 10 sports goods exports of India
| HS Code | Product | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | CAGR% |
| 950699 | Articles and equipment for sport and outdoor games n.e.s; swimming and paddling pools | 81.2 | 97.1 | 105.5 | 103.5 | 110.2 | 6.3% |
| 871200 | Bicycles and other cycles, incl. delivery tricycles, not motorised | 43.7 | 67.9 | 52.7 | 50.4 | 67.3 | 9.0% |
| 950691 | Articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics or athletics | 22.6 | 30.5 | 26.7 | 30.7 | 29.7 | 5.7% |
| 950669 | Balls (excl. inflatable, tennis balls, golf balls, and table-tennis balls) | 16.1 | 20.7 | 26.4 | 24.5 | 24.9 | 9.2% |
| 950662 | Inflatable balls | 12.6 | 19.8 | 20.4 | 21.5 | 21.4 | 11.2% |
| 950790 | Line fishing tackle n.e.s; fish landing nets, butterfly nets and similar nets; decoys and similar . . . | 8.8 | 13.2 | 9.5 | 7.8 | 9.9 | 2.3% |
| 950629 | Water-skis, surfboards and other water-sport equipment (other than sailboards) | 1.8 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 11.9% |
| 950640 | Articles and equipment for table-tennis | 6.0 | 11.8 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 3.0 | -12.6% |
| 950659 | Badminton and similar rackets, whether or not strung (other than tennis rackets and table-tennis . . . | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 24.2% |
| 930400 | Spring, air or gas guns and pistols, truncheons and other non-firearms (excl. swords, cutlasses, . . . | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 99.6% |
Source: ITC Trade map; (Values in US$ Million)
India’s sports equipment exports show steady growth over the past five years, led by general sports equipment (6.3% CAGR) and bicycles (9.0%). Balls (9.2%) and inflatable products (11.2%) have also performed strongly, while niche segments such as badminton rackets (24.2%) and water sports equipment (11.9%) are expanding rapidly from a low base. However, table-tennis equipment has declined sharply (-12.6%), and fishing gear has grown slowly (2.3%). Overall, exports remain concentrated in a few key segments with gradual diversification.
India’s sports goods export in 2024
| Category |
India exports 2024 (US$ billion) |
| Sports equipment | 0.27 |
| Other sports (motor boats) | 0 |
| Sports apparel | 1.3 |
| Sports footwear | 0.4 |
| Sports accessories | 0.002 |
| Other (turfs) | 0.001 |
| Total | 2 |
As is revealed by the data above, in 2024, India’s total sports goods exports were valued at approximately US$ 2 billion. Sports apparel accounted for the largest share at US$ 1.3 billion, followed by sports footwear at US$ 0.4 billion and sports equipment at US$ 0.27 billion. Overall, the export basket remains skewed toward apparel, with relatively limited contribution from equipment and high-value segments. UK, USA, Australia, Germany, Netherland and Mozambique are among the top 5 export destinations.
Structural challenges and domestic manufacturing constraints
NITI Aayog report highlights that despite a sizeable domestic manufacturing base, India’s share in global sports equipment exports remains limited, declining from 0.7% in 2014 to 0.5% in 2024. The export basket is narrow, largely comprising cricket gear, inflatable balls, boxing equipment, and basic fitness products.
Currently, India relies on imports for nearly 63% of its domestic sports equipment consumption. A significant share of India’s sports equipment imports is sourced from China, followed by Japan and the United States, underscoring the country’s reliance on a limited set of global suppliers.
The report highlights several structural challenges.
On the supply side, manufacturers struggle with high raw material costs, expensive land, and costly certification processes. On the demand side, weak integration with global brands and the absence of a cohesive “Brand India” strategy limit export potential.
Additional constraints include inadequate access to advanced materials and technology, infrastructure bottlenecks, and limited logistics efficiency.
Notably, India faces a 15% cost disadvantage compared to leading Asian competitors, which hampers its ability to compete effectively in international markets.
Furthermore, India’s manufacturing ecosystem is also fragmented and concentrated in traditional hubs such as Jalandhar (Punjab) and Meerut (Uttar Pradesh). These 2 clusters form the core of India’s sports goods manufacturing ecosystem, collectively hosting-
- Over 250 export-oriented units,
- More than 1,000 units catering to the domestic market,
- Over 4,000 micro enterprises, and
- Nearly 20,000 household units.
Other important clusters include Ludhiana, known for bicycles, as well as Delhi and Mumbai, which specialise in sports accessories and apparel.
In aggregate, the sector remains predominantly MSME-driven, with nearly 90% of production led by small and micro enterprises. While these firms form the backbone of the sector, their limited scale restricts technology adoption, innovation, and export readiness. This has also led to continued reliance on imports for certain high-end sports goods due to the absence of a comprehensive domestic ecosystem.
Policy support and future growth outlook
In its report, NITI Aayog has proposed a ₹7,500 crore fiscal support package for over five years (2027–31) to position India as a global manufacturing hub for sports equipment. The funding aims to strengthen cluster-based infrastructure, reduce competitiveness gaps, and support certification, branding, and global market access. This intervention is seen as critical to scaling exports from US$ 275 million in 2024 to a projected US$ 8.1 billion by 2036.
With increasing policy focus on unlocking the sector’s untapped potential, recent initiatives—including a ₹500 crore allocation for sports goods manufacturing in Budget 2026, cluster revitalisation, support for MSME scaling, and institutional realignment under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports—are establishing a strong foundation to overcome existing structural constraints.
Looking ahead, the sector presents a highly favourable growth trajectory, with the global sports equipment market expected to expand from around US$ 140 billion today to nearly US$ 300 billion by 2036, opening up substantial opportunities for India. By aiming for an 11% share of global exports, the country could unlock an estimated US$ 8.1 billion in export potential while creating an additional 5.4 million jobs over the next decade.
A favorable global sporting calendar—including the Los Angeles Olympics 2028, Commonwealth Games 2030, Brisbane Olympics 2032, and India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics—offers sustained demand for sports equipment. To capitalize on this, the report recommends consolidating policymaking under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to ensure faster decisions and integrated development across the value chain.
Conclusion
The analysis underscores that India’s sports equipment sector stands at a critical inflection point—supported by strong domestic capabilities, favourable global demand, and a rapidly expanding US$ 140 billion market set to double by 2036. However, persistent structural constraints, including a narrow export basket, MSME fragmentation, 63% import dependence, and a 15% cost disadvantage, continue to limit global competitiveness.
In this context, NITI Aayog’s report provides a clear, execution-oriented roadmap to bridge these gaps. Its proposed ₹7,500 crore intervention, coupled with a focus on cluster modernisation, technology adoption, branding, and global market integration, is not merely incremental but transformative in ambition.
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Realising the Export Potential of India’s Sports Equipment Manufacturing Sector
FAQ
What is the current size of India’s sports goods export market?
India’s sports goods exports are valued at around US$ 2 billion in 2024, with sports equipment contributing about US$ 275 million.
Why is India’s share in global sports equipment exports low?
India’s share remains at around 0.5% due to factors such as high production costs, limited product diversification, weak global brand integration, and fragmented MSME-led manufacturing.
What are the key recommendations of the NITI Aayog report?
The report proposes a ₹7,500 crore fiscal package focused on cluster development, technology adoption, certification support, branding, and improving global market access.
What export growth potential has been identified for India?
India has the potential to scale sports equipment exports to US$ 8.1 billion and overall sports goods exports to US$ 24 billion by 2036.
How can global sporting events benefit India’s sports manufacturing sector?
Events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games can boost demand for sports equipment, providing India an opportunity to expand exports and strengthen its position in global markets.
