Sitharaman urges Indian toymakers to target a quarter of the global market

FM Sitharaman called on Indian toymakers to aim for 25% of the global market, backed by Mudra loans, RoDTEP and trade pacts. Toy imports fell 71% from FY19-FY26 while exports hit $186M in FY26. The domestic market is projected to reach $5B by 2034 against a $179B global market by 2032.

— Source publishedWed, 8 Jul, 2026, 08:42 IST·First seen Wed, 8 Jul, 2026, 10:06 IST·Source ET Retail

What happened

Toy Association of India · FM Sitharaman urged Indian toymakers to target a quarter of the global market, leveraging government schemes and trade pacts. Toy

Key facts

  • 25% global market share target
  • $5 billion domestic market by 2034
  • $179 billion global market by 2032
  • imports down 71% FY19-FY26
  • $186 million exports FY26

Why this matters

Policy tailwinds and collapsing import dependence make Indian toy manufacturers attractive M&A or JV targets for players seeking export-oriented, incentive-supported production bases.

What to watch

  • FY27 export figures vs the $186M base
  • New PLI or cluster funding announcements for toys
  • BIS certification volume and MSME certification costs
  • Chinese toy pricing and any anti-dumping actions
  • Component/raw-material import dependency data
  • Expand toy manufacturing clusters and PLI-style incentives beyond current schemes
  • Push BIS quality certification and safety standards to unlock EU/US market access
  • Domestic majors and MSMEs pursue contract-manufacturing tie-ups and design capability
  • Leverage FTAs to secure preferential toy tariff lines