India’s MSME sector is becoming an increasingly important part of the country’s export economy.
According to the Ministry of MSME, MSME-related products accounted for 48.55% of India’s total merchandise exports in 2024-25, up from 45.74% in 2023-24 and 43.59% in 2022-23.
In simple terms, almost half of India’s merchandise export value was represented by MSME-related products in 2024-25.
But there is an important clarification.
The 48.55% figure refers to MSME-related products, and should not be interpreted as saying that 48.55% of India’s exports were directly shipped by enterprises classified as MSMEs.
Still, the number highlights the growing importance of smaller businesses in India’s global trade ecosystem.
And for an entrepreneur who has never exported before, the more important question is:
How can a small Indian business actually find overseas buyers and start exporting?
The government’s data shows a clear upward trend:
| Financial year | Share of MSME-related products in merchandise exports |
|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 43.59% |
| 2023-24 | 45.74% |
| 2024-25 | 48.55% |
The share increased by nearly 5 percentage points in two years.
The Economic Survey 2025-26 separately reported that MSMEs accounted for approximately 48.58% of India’s exports, using its own measure.
These figures are not necessarily identical because the underlying definitions and methodology differ. For this article, the 48.55% figure refers specifically to the government’s data on MSME-related products in merchandise exports.
Exporting is often associated with large factories, containers and multinational companies.
But a small business can participate in international trade in several ways.
You can:
The biggest mistake is to think that exporting begins with finding a huge foreign order.
It actually begins with finding the right product-market opportunity.
If you are a small manufacturer, trader or entrepreneur considering exports, here is a practical roadmap.
Don’t start by asking:
“Which country should I export to?”
Start with:
“Which product can I supply consistently and profitably?”
For example, an Indian MSME may explore:
Your product should have three basic characteristics:
Demand + Competitive Pricing + Reliable Supply
If you cannot maintain consistent quality or supply, finding the buyer is only the beginning of the problem.
Once you know your product, identify countries where there is actual import demand.
Don’t select a country simply because you think the market is attractive.
Research:
For example, if you manufacture Assam tea, your research should go beyond:
“Which countries drink tea?”
You should ask:
“Which countries import the type and grade of tea I can supply, at what price, and who are the active importers?”
That difference can save a small exporter a lot of time and money.
This is where many first-time exporters struggle.
Searching Google for:
“tea importer Dubai”
or
“spice buyer Russia”
may give you companies, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you whether those companies are actively importing your product.
For serious buyer research, look for evidence of actual import activity.
You can investigate:
If you are serious about finding overseas buyers, Volza can help you research importers and shipment activity before approaching them.
Explore Volza for Export Buyer Research
Instead of contacting hundreds of random companies, use shipment intelligence to identify companies that are actually involved in importing products similar to yours, then shortlist prospects for direct outreach.
BusinessZindagi tip: Don’t treat a database result as proof that a company will buy from you. Use it as a lead, then independently verify the company’s website, business activity, contact details and payment credibility.
Finding a buyer is not the same as finding a safe buyer.
Before accepting a significant order, check:
Be particularly careful when a completely unknown buyer asks you to manufacture or ship a large order on unsecured credit.
For a small exporter, one bad transaction can wipe out the profit from several successful orders.
Your product’s HS code is fundamental to export research.
It affects:
Before approaching buyers, identify the correct HS classification for your product.
Don’t simply copy an HS code from another exporter.
For complicated products, confirm the classification through the appropriate customs/DGFT channels or a qualified professional.
Never quote an overseas buyer by simply adding a small margin to your purchase price.
Your calculation should consider:
Product cost
Packaging
Local transportation
Testing/certification where applicable
Documentation and handling
Customs/port-related costs
Freight
Insurance where applicable
Banking/payment costs
Commission
Your profit margin
Only after calculating the complete economics should you decide your export quotation.
Also understand the difference between EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR and other Incoterms before agreeing to a price.
A price that looks profitable on paper can become a loss once freight, handling and other charges are included.
Payment terms are one of the biggest risks for a new exporter.
Common arrangements can include:
The right structure depends on the buyer, country, transaction size and risk.
For a first transaction with an unknown buyer, don’t blindly accept long credit periods simply because the buyer demands them.
Your objective is not just to get an export order. Your objective is to get paid safely.
Before shipping, understand the documentation applicable to your transaction.
Depending on the product, destination and shipping method, this can involve documents such as:
For e-commerce and courier exports, the documentation process can differ from conventional commercial shipments. DGFT’s MSME e-commerce export handbook provides specific guidance for postal and courier routes.
For preferential trade, DGFT also operates the electronic Certificate of Origin system.
Always check the latest DGFT, Customs and destination-country requirements before shipping.
A first export transaction is a learning exercise.
You are learning:
Therefore, a small business should be careful about taking an unusually large first order that it cannot comfortably finance or fulfil.
A successful small transaction can lead to a much larger repeat order.
Exporting becomes much more attractive when the same buyer orders repeatedly.
After the first shipment, track:
Then improve the next shipment.
The goal should be to create a repeatable export system, not simply to collect one purchase order.
The government has introduced several measures to strengthen the export ecosystem.
The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) has a total outlay of ₹25,060 crore for FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31.
It has two broad components:
Focused on improving access to trade finance for MSME exporters.
Focused on non-financial support such as:
The Ministry’s International Cooperation Scheme also provides support in certain areas for eligible MSMEs, including participation in international exhibitions and buyer-seller meets. Support for first-time micro and small exporters can include specified costs related to RCMC, export insurance premium and testing/quality certification, subject to scheme conditions.
The 48.55% figure tells us that MSME-related products already have a major place in India’s merchandise exports.
But that does not mean every MSME should immediately start exporting.
Exporting requires preparation.
A better approach is:
Product → Market → Buyer → Verification → Price → Payment → Documentation → Shipment → Repeat order
If you get these steps right, exporting can become another sustainable sales channel for a small Indian business.
And you don’t have to begin with a container.
You can begin with one product, one market and one carefully verified buyer.
India’s MSME-related products accounted for 48.55% of total merchandise exports in 2024-25, according to the Ministry of MSME.
For small businesses, the bigger message is not simply that India’s exports are growing.
It is that international markets are already an important part of the ecosystem in which Indian MSMEs operate.
If you are considering exports, don’t start by chasing the biggest buyer you can find.
Start by finding a market where your product is competitive, identify genuine importers, verify them carefully, calculate your complete export cost and execute the first shipment properly.
That is how a small business can gradually build an export business.
The Ministry of MSME reported that MSME-related products represented 48.55% of India’s total merchandise exports in 2024-25.
No. The statistic refers to the share of MSME-related products in merchandise exports. It should not automatically be interpreted as the percentage of exports directly shipped by enterprises classified as MSMEs.
Start by selecting a suitable product, identifying target markets, researching import demand, finding and verifying buyers, calculating the complete export cost, understanding payment terms and completing the applicable export documentation.
You can research importers, distributors, wholesalers, trade fairs, industry associations and trade-data platforms. Shipment data can be particularly useful for identifying companies that have actually imported similar products.
No. Profit depends on product cost, selling price, freight, duties, compliance, payment terms, competition, buyer reliability and other factors. Always calculate the complete transaction economics before accepting an order.
Editorial Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available government information and is intended for general business education. Export rules, scheme guidelines, eligibility and compliance requirements can change. Verify the latest requirements with the relevant authorities before making business decisions.
AI Disclosure: This article was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed/structured for BusinessZindagi. Readers should independently verify current government rules, eligibility and export requirements from official sources before acting.
Absolutely. I’d make the article much tighter around the 48.55% news, then use the second half to give a genuinely useful “How can my small business start exporting?” roadmap. I’d also place the Volza CTA immediately after the buyer-research section, where it has the strongest contextual relevance.
Primary keyword: MSME exports in India
Secondary keywords:MSME export share India, MSME contribution to exports, MSME exports 2024-25, MSME related products exports, how to export from India, how MSMEs can start exporting, find buyers for export, export buyer research, Indian exporters
SEO title:
MSME Exports in India Reach 48.55%: How Small Businesses Can Export
Slug:/msme-exports-in-india/
MSME Exports in India Reach 48.55%: How Small Businesses Can Export
India’s MSME sector is becoming an increasingly important part of the country’s export economy.
According to the Ministry of MSME, MSME-related products accounted for 48.55% of India’s total merchandise exports in 2024-25, up from 45.74% in 2023-24 and 43.59% in 2022-23.
In simple terms, almost half of India’s merchandise export value was represented by MSME-related products in 2024-25.
But there is an important clarification.
The 48.55% figure refers to MSME-related products, and should not be interpreted as saying that 48.55% of India’s exports were directly shipped by enterprises classified as MSMEs.
Still, the number highlights the growing importance of smaller businesses in India’s global trade ecosystem.
And for an entrepreneur who has never exported before, the more important question is:
How can a small Indian business actually find overseas buyers and start exporting?
The government’s data shows a clear upward trend:
| Financial year | Share of MSME-related products in merchandise exports |
|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 43.59% |
| 2023-24 | 45.74% |
| 2024-25 | 48.55% |
The share increased by nearly 5 percentage points in two years.
The Economic Survey 2025-26 separately reported that MSMEs accounted for approximately 48.58% of India’s exports, using its own measure.
These figures are not necessarily identical because the underlying definitions and methodology differ. For this article, the 48.55% figure refers specifically to the government’s data on MSME-related products in merchandise exports.
Exporting is often associated with large factories, containers and multinational companies.
But a small business can participate in international trade in several ways.
You can:
The biggest mistake is to think that exporting begins with finding a huge foreign order.
It actually begins with finding the right product-market opportunity.
If you are a small manufacturer, trader or entrepreneur considering exports, here is a practical roadmap.
Don’t start by asking:
“Which country should I export to?”
Start with:
“Which product can I supply consistently and profitably?”
For example, an Indian MSME may explore:
Your product should have three basic characteristics:
Demand + Competitive Pricing + Reliable Supply
If you cannot maintain consistent quality or supply, finding the buyer is only the beginning of the problem.
Once you know your product, identify countries where there is actual import demand.
Don’t select a country simply because you think the market is attractive.
Research:
For example, if you manufacture Assam tea, your research should go beyond:
“Which countries drink tea?”
You should ask:
“Which countries import the type and grade of tea I can supply, at what price, and who are the active importers?”
That difference can save a small exporter a lot of time and money.
This is where many first-time exporters struggle.
Searching Google for:
“tea importer Dubai”
or
“spice buyer Russia”
may give you companies, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you whether those companies are actively importing your product.
For serious buyer research, look for evidence of actual import activity.
You can investigate:
If you are serious about finding overseas buyers, Volza can help you research importers and shipment activity before approaching them.
Explore Volza for Export Buyer Research
Instead of contacting hundreds of random companies, use shipment intelligence to identify companies that are actually involved in importing products similar to yours, then shortlist prospects for direct outreach.
BusinessZindagi tip: Don’t treat a database result as proof that a company will buy from you. Use it as a lead, then independently verify the company’s website, business activity, contact details and payment credibility.
Finding a buyer is not the same as finding a safe buyer.
Before accepting a significant order, check:
Be particularly careful when a completely unknown buyer asks you to manufacture or ship a large order on unsecured credit.
For a small exporter, one bad transaction can wipe out the profit from several successful orders.
Your product’s HS code is fundamental to export research.
It affects:
Before approaching buyers, identify the correct HS classification for your product.
Don’t simply copy an HS code from another exporter.
For complicated products, confirm the classification through the appropriate customs/DGFT channels or a qualified professional.
Never quote an overseas buyer by simply adding a small margin to your purchase price.
Your calculation should consider:
Product cost
Packaging
Local transportation
Testing/certification where applicable
Documentation and handling
Customs/port-related costs
Freight
Insurance where applicable
Banking/payment costs
Commission
Your profit margin
Only after calculating the complete economics should you decide your export quotation.
Also understand the difference between EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR and other Incoterms before agreeing to a price.
A price that looks profitable on paper can become a loss once freight, handling and other charges are included.
Payment terms are one of the biggest risks for a new exporter.
Common arrangements can include:
The right structure depends on the buyer, country, transaction size and risk.
For a first transaction with an unknown buyer, don’t blindly accept long credit periods simply because the buyer demands them.
Your objective is not just to get an export order. Your objective is to get paid safely.
Before shipping, understand the documentation applicable to your transaction.
Depending on the product, destination and shipping method, this can involve documents such as:
For e-commerce and courier exports, the documentation process can differ from conventional commercial shipments. DGFT’s MSME e-commerce export handbook provides specific guidance for postal and courier routes.
For preferential trade, DGFT also operates the electronic Certificate of Origin system.
Always check the latest DGFT, Customs and destination-country requirements before shipping.
A first export transaction is a learning exercise.
You are learning:
Therefore, a small business should be careful about taking an unusually large first order that it cannot comfortably finance or fulfil.
A successful small transaction can lead to a much larger repeat order.
Exporting becomes much more attractive when the same buyer orders repeatedly.
After the first shipment, track:
Then improve the next shipment.
The goal should be to create a repeatable export system, not simply to collect one purchase order.
The government has introduced several measures to strengthen the export ecosystem.
The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) has a total outlay of ₹25,060 crore for FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31.
It has two broad components:
Focused on improving access to trade finance for MSME exporters.
Focused on non-financial support such as:
The Ministry’s International Cooperation Scheme also provides support in certain areas for eligible MSMEs, including participation in international exhibitions and buyer-seller meets. Support for first-time micro and small exporters can include specified costs related to RCMC, export insurance premium and testing/quality certification, subject to scheme conditions.
The 48.55% figure tells us that MSME-related products already have a major place in India’s merchandise exports.
But that does not mean every MSME should immediately start exporting.
Exporting requires preparation.
A better approach is:
Product → Market → Buyer → Verification → Price → Payment → Documentation → Shipment → Repeat order
If you get these steps right, exporting can become another sustainable sales channel for a small Indian business.
And you don’t have to begin with a container.
You can begin with one product, one market and one carefully verified buyer.
India’s MSME-related products accounted for 48.55% of total merchandise exports in 2024-25, according to the Ministry of MSME.
For small businesses, the bigger message is not simply that India’s exports are growing.
It is that international markets are already an important part of the ecosystem in which Indian MSMEs operate.
If you are considering exports, don’t start by chasing the biggest buyer you can find.
Start by finding a market where your product is competitive, identify genuine importers, verify them carefully, calculate your complete export cost and execute the first shipment properly.
That is how a small business can gradually build an export business.
The Ministry of MSME reported that MSME-related products represented 48.55% of India’s total merchandise exports in 2024-25.
No. The statistic refers to the share of MSME-related products in merchandise exports. It should not automatically be interpreted as the percentage of exports directly shipped by enterprises classified as MSMEs.
Start by selecting a suitable product, identifying target markets, researching import demand, finding and verifying buyers, calculating the complete export cost, understanding payment terms and completing the applicable export documentation.
You can research importers, distributors, wholesalers, trade fairs, industry associations and trade-data platforms. Shipment data can be particularly useful for identifying companies that have actually imported similar products.
No. Profit depends on product cost, selling price, freight, duties, compliance, payment terms, competition, buyer reliability and other factors. Always calculate the complete transaction economics before accepting an order.
MSME Exports in India Reach 48.55%: How Small Businesses Can Export
MSME-related products reached 48.55% of India’s merchandise exports in 2024-25. Learn how Indian MSMEs can find buyers and start exporting.
Editorial Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available government information and is intended for general business education. Export rules, scheme guidelines, eligibility and compliance requirements can change. Verify the latest requirements with the relevant authorities before making business decisions.
AI Disclosure: This article was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed/structured for BusinessZindagi. Readers should independently verify current government rules, eligibility and export requirements from official sources before acting.
Best placement for the Volza CTA: keep it exactly after “Find genuine overseas buyers”. That’s where the reader has reached the problem Volza solves, so it feels like a useful resource rather than a generic affiliate advertisement.
Ad
Give a suggested clickable links from relevant articles of businesszindagi.com
Yes. For this article, I would keep the internal links highly relevant and limited rather than adding many unrelated links.
After “Choose the right export market”
Before entering a market, it is important to understand import demand, competitors and potential buyers. Read our guide on how to use global trade data to find verified international buyers.
Inside “Find genuine overseas buyers”
You can also explore the government’s DGFT Source from India platform and learn how to find international buyers without visiting trade fairs.
Then put your Volza affiliate CTA immediately after this paragraph. This creates a very natural progression:
Learn buyer research → Government buyer platform → Volza shipment intelligence → Contact/verify buyer
Inside “Calculate the real export price”
Link to your Export Profit Calculator if you want to push one of your own tools. Your homepage currently positions the Export Profit Calculator around shipment cost and profit calculation.
Inside “Complete your export documentation”
For a practical look at what happens after receiving your first order, see our guide on First Export Order: Proforma Invoice, CHA, Shipping Bill & Port Choice.
Inside the Assam/Northeast angle
Add:
MSMEs in Assam and other Northeastern states should also check the DGFT LIFT Scheme, which provides support related to inland transportation for eligible products and exporters.
Don’t use all 7 links in the article. Use 5–6 maximum, with these four being the most important:
Global Trade Data → DGFT Source from India → First Export Order → DGFT LIFT Scheme
And keep the Volza CTA directly after the buyer-research section. That gives you a strong internal-link structure without making the article look artificially SEO-optimized.
Make it short and crunchy
Updated: 17 September 2026 For a small business trying to enter international markets, even a…
UPI charges will change for some merchant transactions from 15 October 2026. However, UPI will…
Social Security COLA 2027: Why a Bigger Increase May Still Not Mean More Money The…
CBIC EMI Scheme 2026 has become simpler for eligible manufacturer-importers. From 15 September 2026, the…
Small businesses that do not have GST registration could soon find it easier to access…
Focus Keyword: free project report maker Starting a business often begins with an idea. But…