Parliament Question: Export performance and industrial growth in Kerala

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3238 ANSWERED ON 20/03/2026 EXPORT PERFORMANCE AND INDUSTRIAL GROWTH IN KERALA 3238. SHRI SANDOSH KUMAR P Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: (a) the total value of exports from Kerala during the last five years, sector-wise, including marine products, spices, coir, rubber and IT services; (b) Kerala's rank among States in terms of merchandise and services exports during the said period; (c) the details of industrial corridors, export parks or Special Economic Zones (SEZs) approved or operational in Kerala; (d) whether Government proposes to leverage the operationalisation of Vizhinjam International Seaport to boost export-oriented industries in Kerala, if so, the steps taken in this regard; and (e) the assistance provided to MSMEs in Kerala under Central schemes to enhance export competitiveness? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASAD) (a) The total value of sector-wise exports from Kerala during the last five years is as under: Export Value (In million USD) Commodity Group 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 CARPET 70.19 98.37 72.80 96.36 115.01 CASHEW 205.14 200.64 167.75 163.44 161.02 CERAMIC PRODUCTS AND GLASSWARE 49.71 32.91 47.37 61.59 61.44 CEREAL PREPARATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROCESSED ITEM 61.18 62.67 64.16 80.32 93.45 COFFEE 56.89 93.01 74.62 90.73 69.34 COTTON YARN/FABS./MADEUPS, 51.05 69.52 67.21 72.27 77.66 1HANDLOOM PRODUCTS ETC. DRUGS AND PHARMACEUTICALS 40.16 29.17 25.26 30.06 29.15 ELECTRONIC GOODS 92.09 91.31 114.46 126.70 158.75 ENGINEERING GOODS 501.23 545.87 552.76 904.50 840.89 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 138.17 138.78 134.79 152.36 179.22 GEMS AND JEWELLERY 289.88 112.11 98.89 173.72 193.52 HANDICRAFTS EXCL. HAND MADE CARPET 10.49 11.60 12.76 6.38 5.09 IRON ORE 0.00 JUTE MFG. INCLUDING FLOOR COVERING 42.27 47.33 38.06 36.47 41.25 LEATHER AND LEATHER MANUFACTURES 0.38 0.78 1.48 2.13 1.54 MAN-MADE YARN/FABS./MADEUPS ETC. 8.71 11.63 11.80 10.59 11.31 MARINE PRODUCTS 698.23 877.71 1005.67 814.08 753.74 MEAT, DAIRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS 12.76 2.84 3.06 5.90 12.84 MICA, COAL AND OTHER ORES, MINERALS INCLUDING PROCESS 7.47 7.03 8.62 13.17 5.57 OIL MEALS 0.24 0.21 0.74 0.62 1.13 OIL SEEDS 0.06 0.07 0.09 0.18 0.07 ORGANIC AND INORGANIC CHEMICALS 159.85 247.58 239.94 215.26 246.33 OTHER CEREALS 0.71 0.30 0.29 0.36 0.34 OTHERS 296.87 331.90 290.05 279.05 285.41 PETROLEUM PRODUCTS 347.14 659.35 452.63 3878.24 228.57 PLASTIC AND LINOLEUM 15.40 16.82 20.42 18.46 20.55 RICE 49.23 42.77 58.02 62.80 130.53 RMG OF ALL TEXTILES 105.75 167.60 147.94 149.06 183.81 SPICES 522.33 581.18 555.34 612.32 738.27 TEA 104.91 92.89 101.45 108.81 120.22 TOBACCO 1.54 3.95 5.84 6.45 6.21 Source:DGCIS (b) Kerala's merchandise exports and rank in last Five years (US$ million) are as under: Year Merchandise exports Rank (among Indian states) 2020-21 3,940.06 15 2021-22 4,557.98 15 2022-23 4,374.99 16 2023-24 8,173.34 13 2024-25 4,772.24 12 2Source: Niryat portal (c) The details of Industrial Corridors and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Kerala are as follows: (i) Palakkad Industrial Area in Kerala (under CBIC Ext.): The Government of India, in August 2024, has approved Palakkad Industrial Area under Chennai–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) Extension for an area admeasuring 1710.37 acres in the state of Kerala for a total Project cost of ₹3,806 crores. Shareholders’ Agreement and State Support Agreement have been executed, and the project Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) – Kerala Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Ltd. has been incorporated. (ii) As on 28.02.2026, 20 SEZs have been notified in the State of Kerala, out of which 19 SEZs are operational. The details of these SEZs are at Annexure. The total exports from the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Kerala during the last five years and the current year are as follows:- Rs. in crore State 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Kerala 19,279 21,972 21,501 25,774 28,800 (d) Operationalisation of Vizhinjam International Seaport reflects India’s focused approach towards building world-class port infrastructure to boost exports. (e) The assistance provided to MSMEs under Central schemes: (i) The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has established 65 Export Facilitation Centres (EFCs) in its field offices across the country, including 01 in Kerala, namely MSME- Development and Facilitation Office, Thrissur to provide requisite mentoring and handholding support to MSMEs in exporting their products and services. EFCs support MSME exporters by providing comprehensive assistance across key areas. These include the dissemination of information on export-related schemes and benefits, training and workshops on export compliance, handholding in export documentation and procedures, engagement with industry associations, State Governments, and DGFT to facilitate MSMEs. (ii) The Export Promotion Mission (EPM), approved by the Union Cabinet and implemented by Directorate General of Foreign Trade, provides a comprehensive, digitally driven framework for export promotion with an outlay of ₹25,060 crore (FY 2025–26 to 2030–31). It aims to address key bottlenecks faced by exporters, especially MSMEs, by improving access to affordable trade finance, easing compliance with global standards, and strengthening logistics and institutional support. The Mission represents a shift from fragmented schemes to a unified, outcome-based mechanism. The Mission will operate through two integrated sub-schemes: 1. NIRYAT PROTSAHAN – focuses on improving access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs through a range of instruments such as interest subvention, export factoring, collateral guarantees, credit cards for e-commerce exporters, and credit enhancement support for diversification into new markets. 32. NIRYAT DISHA – focuses on non-financial enablers that enhance market readiness and competitiveness, including export quality and compliance support, assistance for international branding, packaging, and participation in trade fairs, export warehousing and logistics, inland transport reimbursements, and trade intelligence and capacity-building initiatives. (iii) Under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), implemented by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), State SPVs allot land to investors, including MSMEs, as per policy, with supportive fiscal measures. They also offer relaxations such as discounts for early investors, flexible lease payments, and differential lease periods. (iv) Bharat Trade Net (BTN), announced in the Union Budget 2025, is a digital public infrastructure by Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. It aims to digitise trade documentation, ease compliance, improve access to export finance, and enhance MSME competitiveness through faster, paperless, and globally aligned trade processes. (v) Strengthening infrastructure through the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti enhances multimodal connectivity and reduces logistics costs, directly benefiting MSME exporters by easing supply chain bottlenecks. (vi) Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India, under the Department of Commerce, provides credit insurance to exporters against commercial and political risks, enabling especially MSMEs to access global markets with confidence. It also offers Export Credit Insurance for Banks (ECIB), facilitating affordable and adequate export credit. ***** 4Annexure referred to in reply to Part (c) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3238 for answer on 20.03.2026. Annexure List of Notified SEZs in Kerala Sl. Name of the Location Type of SEZ Area Date of Remarks No. Developer (hectares) initial Notification 1 Cochin Cochin Multi Product 41.69 01.11.2000 Operational Special Economic Zone 2 Infopark Kakkanad, Ernakulam IT/ITES 32.6246 28.09. 2006 Operational 3 Cochin Port Vallapadom, Port Based 110.4465 02.11.2006 Operational Trust Mulavukadu/Fort Kochi Village, Ernakulam District 4 Cochin Port Puthuvypeen, Port Based 285.8413 02.11.2006 Operational Trust Eranakulam District 5 Electronics Thiruvanthapuram IT/ITES 12.55 30.11.2006 Operational Technology Parks-Kerala 6 Electronics Attipura Vill. Taluk & IT/ITES 34.475 13.12.2006 Operational Technology Distt.Thiruvanthapuram Parks-Kerala 7 Kerala Ayiroopara and IT/ITES 8.098 12.04.2007 Operational Industrial Kazhakoottam Infrastructure Villages, Trivandrum Development District Corporation. (KINFRA) 8 Kerala Chelembra Village, Agro Based Food 10.35 13.06.2007 Operational Industrial Thirurangadi Taluk, Processing Infrastructure Malappuram District Development Corporation (KINFRA) 9 Kerala Thrikkakara village, Electronics 12.141 13.06.2007 Operational Industrial Kanayannur Taluk, Industries Infrastructure Ernakulam District Development Corporation (KINFRA) 10 Kerala State Pallipuram Village, IT/ITES 13.0788 08.06.2009 Operational Information Chertala Taluk, Technology Alappuzha District Infrastructure Limited 511 Kerala State Village Mulavana, IT/ITES 13.5346 19.11.2009 Operational Information District Kollam Technology Infrastructure Limited 12 Electronics Village Attipra, Taluk IT/ITES 17.5866 19.11.2009 Operational Technology and District Parks-Kerala Thiruvananthapuram (Technopark) 13 Uralungal Nellikode Village, IT/ITES 5.352 23.02.2010 Operational Labour Kozhikode District Contract Co- operative Society Limited (ULCCS LTD) 14 Sutherland Village Thrikkakara IT/ITES 10.1175 12.07.2010 Operational Global North, Taluka Services Kanayannur, District Private Ernakulam Limited 15 Smart City Village Kakkanad, IT/ITES 93.9165 01.03.2011 Operational (Kochi) Taluka Kanayannur, Infrastructure District Ernakulam Limited 16 Infoparks Village Puthencruz and IT/ITES 41.3064 16.05.2011 Operational Kerala Kunnathunadu, Taluka Kunnathunadu, District Ernakulam 17 Kerala State Village Pantheerankavu IT/ITES 1.7402 27.5.2011 Operational Information and Nellikode, Taluka Technology Kozhikode, District Infrastructure Kozhikode Limited (KSITIL) 18 Electronics Village Andoorkonam, IT/ITES 7.2597 29.11.2012 Operational Technology Taluk & District Parks-Kerala Thiruvananthapuram 19 Kerala State Village Muringur – IT/ITES SEZ 2.43 23.06.2014 Operational IT Thekkumuri, Infrastructure Mukundapuram Taluk, Limited Koratty Panchayath, (KSITIL) Thrissur District 20 Parsvnath Chengamanad Village IT/ITES 17.08 08.04.2013 Yet to be Infa Ltd of Aluva Taluk, operational Ernakulam \ 6