FM Sitharaman urges Indian toymakers to chase a quarter of the global market

Backing the domestic toy category with trade pacts, Mudra Yojana and export duty remissions, Sitharaman pushed makers toward a bigger global slice. India's toy imports fell 71% from FY19-FY26 while exports hit $186M in FY26; the domestic market is pegged at $5B by 2034 against a $179B global market by 2032.

— Source publishedTue, 7 Jul, 2026, 19:28 IST·First seen Tue, 7 Jul, 2026, 19:47 IST·Source ET Small Business

What happened

Toy Association of India · FM Sitharaman urged Indian toymakers to target a quarter of the global toy market, citing conducive policies, trade agreements,

Key facts

  • $5 billion by 2034 domestic market
  • $179 billion global by 2032
  • imports down 71% FY19-FY26
  • exports $186 million FY26

Why this matters

The government's export push and trade-pact backing create a window to acquire or partner with domestic toymakers positioned to capture share of the $179B global market.

What to watch

  • Export figures for FY27 vs the $186M FY26 base
  • Any new toy-specific PLI or incentive scheme notification
  • Signed FTA text with UK/EU affecting toy duties
  • FDI or contract-manufacturing shift announcements (China+1)
  • Domestic input-cost and plastic/electronics component pricing
  • Track new toy-cluster/park announcements and PLI-style incentive extensions to the sector
  • Watch large listed players and diversified conglomerates entering branded/licensed toy segments
  • Monitor FTA chapters covering toy tariff lines and rules-of-origin
  • Expect BIS certification tightening and continued anti-dumping posture on imports