UP exports gain momentum under Yogi government, carpet industry earns global recognition
Export value rises 2.4 times after 2017, Bhadohi-Mirzapur-Varanasi cluster makes a strong mark in India and across the world
Lucknow, October 2026 : Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's leadership, Uttar Pradesh has seen renewed momentum in exports. The state’s exports are no longer limited to traditional products; products from sectors such as electronics, engineering, food, and dairy have also established a strong presence in global markets.
In this changing scenario, Purvanchal's carpet industry is also playing an important role in taking Uttar Pradesh’s export identity to markets worldwide. The 50th India Carpet Expo, being organized in Bhadohi, has emerged as a major platform for this global recognition.
The transformation witnessed in the state’s exports over the years can be gauged from the fact that Uttar Pradesh’s exports, which stood at Rs 84,283 crore in financial year 2016-17, increased to Rs 2,01,241 crore in financial year 2025-26. This represents an increase of nearly 2.5 times in export value. Earlier, during 2012-17, the average annual growth rate of exports was 4.1 percent, rising to about 7.3 percent after 2017. Thus, the pace of export growth nearly doubled.
In Uttar Pradesh’s carpet industry, Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi) leads the way. In financial year 2024-25, Bhadohi alone accounted for more than 70 percent of the state’s total carpet exports. The Bhadohi-Mirzapur-Varanasi carpet cluster together contributes nearly 88 percent of Uttar Pradesh’s carpet exports. In the national context, Uttar Pradesh, particularly the Bhadohi-Mirzapur cluster, has historically accounted for between 55 and 60 percent of India’s total handmade carpet exports.
Before 2017, the cluster was facing a severe downturn due to policy neglect, power shortages, complex tax procedures, and inadequate infrastructure. At that time, expecting a major surge in manufacturing or global exports from Uttar Pradesh was considered ‘beyond imagination’. Exporters and industry were shifting out of the state. In contrast, today the Bhadohi-Mirzapur-Varanasi cluster alone accounts for carpet exports worth around Rs 5,000 crore to global markets (US, Europe and the Middle East).
The carpet industry is not merely an export figure but also a source of livelihood for a large number of people. Around 5 lakh workers, artisans and weavers are associated with the carpet industry in Bhadohi. India is among the world’s leading exporters in the handmade carpet sector, and Bhadohi has a distinct identity in this global trade.
The ODOP scheme, toolkit distribution, MUDRA loans, and the provision of modern and solar looms have significantly improved the incomes and working conditions of local artisans/weavers. Their dependence on middlemen has declined, while local employment generation has helped prevent youth migration.
During 2012-17, leather, handicrafts, and carpets-durries accounted for the major share of the state’s export basket. The picture has since diversified. In financial year 2024-25, electronics accounted for 24 percent, engineering 20 percent, and food-dairy 11 percent, making them the major export sectors.
This also indicates the expansion of Uttar Pradesh’s export base. Before 2017, Uttar Pradesh’s traditional handicrafts lacked global branding and organized markets, whereas today the state accounts for 16.56 percent of the country’s handicraft exports.
Following the ‘One District, One Product’ (ODOP) initiative and the Export Promotion Policy, exports of handicrafts and related traditional products have more than doubled from earlier levels.
Better connectivity (Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway, Dedicated Freight Corridor, Jewar Airport), uninterrupted power supply, and top ranking in ‘Ease of Doing Business’ have changed the state’s landscape. Uttar Pradesh has emerged not only as a major center for traditional handicrafts but also as a major national hub for mobile/electronics manufacturing, the Defense Corridor, and textiles.
Carpet Expo Mart, developed over 7.5 acres in Bhadohi, was inaugurated in December 2020. This state-of-the-art platform has played an important role in directly connecting the carpet trade with global buyers. As part of this initiative, the 50th India Carpet Expo will be held in Bhadohi from October 4 to 7, 2026.
Around 250 exhibitors and more than 450 foreign buyers from 65 countries will participate in the expo. These include 106 buyers from BRICS countries. In this context, the colors and craftsmanship of Bhadohi carpets are set to receive renewed visibility in global markets.
