Jalandhar’s sports-goods export share falls to 35% as Meerut and China gain

Once responsible for roughly 90% of India’s sports-goods exports, Jalandhar now holds about 35%, versus Meerut’s 45%. The Punjab cluster remains strong in hand-stitched balls and specialist equipment as India’s sporting-goods exports reached $400.1 million in FY25, up 8% year on year.

— Source publishedMon, 3 Aug, 2026, 13:22 IST·First seen Mon, 3 Aug, 2026, 13:24 IST·Source YourStory · Capital

What happened

Jalandhar sports goods industry · Jalandhar's sports-goods cluster has lost export leadership to Meerut and Chinese competition, with its share falling from

Key facts

  • Jalandhar supplied products to more than 130 countries at its peak
  • Jalandhar accounted for roughly 90% of India's sports-goods exports in the 1980s and 1990s
  • Inflatable balls account for roughly 60% of Jalandhar production
  • Jalandhar's export share has fallen to roughly 35%
  • Meerut's share is around 45%
  • India's broader sporting-goods exports reached $400.1 million in FY25, up about 8% year on year
  • The sector supports more than 500,000 direct and indirect livelihoods

Why this matters

The fragmented, shifting supplier landscape creates partnership and acquisition opportunities in Meerut-scale manufacturers and Jalandhar specialists with differentiated craftsmanship, export capabilities, or premium-brand access.

What to watch

  • Jalandhar’s share of India sporting-goods exports falling below 30%, indicating that displacement is extending beyond commodity categories.
  • Meerut expanding export capacity, certification infrastructure or private-label contracts with large global sporting-goods retailers.
  • Chinese supplier pricing changes driven by freight rates, exchange rates, tariffs or trade restrictions.
  • Investment in automation, testing laboratories, common facilities or export consortia in the Jalandhar cluster.
  • Order growth in hand-stitched balls and premium cricket equipment versus mass-market fitness, toys and molded goods.
  • India sporting-goods export growth sustaining above the FY25 8% rate, which could support multiple clusters without immediately intensifying price competition.
  • Buyer mandates on recycled materials, labor standards, product safety and digital traceability that could reshuffle supplier rankings.
  • Diversify sourcing across Jalandhar, Meerut and selected Chinese or Southeast Asian vendors rather than treating Jalandhar as a full-category source.
  • Reserve Jalandhar suppliers for hand-stitched balls, custom team equipment, specialist protective gear and products where craftsmanship supports premium pricing.
  • Use Meerut for scalable, standardized private-label lines where consistent quality, broad SKU coverage and rapid replenishment matter most.
  • Require supplier scorecards covering labor compliance, product testing, lead times, defect rates, traceability and currency-adjusted landed cost.
  • Negotiate longer-term capacity commitments with top Jalandhar vendors, tied to quality upgrades, design collaboration and delivery performance.
  • Monitor whether suppliers can meet sustainability and traceability requirements, which may create a premium export opportunity despite share losses.

Also reported by