GEARING UP FOR SPORTS

As India seeks to build a globally competitive sports goods industry, Tamil Nadu is emerging as one of the strongest contenders for a large-scale manufacturing hub, leveraging its deep industrial ecosystem, export infrastructure, and vast MSME network. NITI Aayog’s recent assessment of state-level readiness for sports goods manufacturing identified Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu as the most promising destinations for new clusters. While Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have introduced dedicated policies to attract sports goods manufacturers, TN’s advantage lies in its mature industrial base and proven export capabilities.

“The sports goods manufacturing landscape in India has evolved significantly. Historically concentrated in traditional clusters such as Jalandhar and Meerut, the industry is now witnessing organised, brand-led manufacturing emerge in newer geographies, including south India,” said Bhavin Lakhlani, Sales Head at SiXiT, a manufacturer of cricket tennis balls and other cricket products that operates a factory in Madurai employing nearly 1,000 people.

Industry representatives note that Gujarat offers scale and a mature MSME ecosystem, while Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself aggressively through SEZ-linked incentives. “Each state has its strengths. But for segments such as cricket equipment, Tamil Nadu’s combination of material-processing expertise and manufacturing reliability makes it a natural choice,” Lakhlani said.

While Tamil Nadu does not yet have a dedicated sports goods manufacturing policy, it possesses many of the ingredients needed to build a globally competitive ecosystem. Industrial estates developed by SIDCO and SIPCOT provide ready infrastructure, while ports at Chennai, Kamarajar and Tuticorin offer efficient access to global markets. Ongoing infrastructure investments exceeding 1.2 lakh crore are expected to further strengthen logistics connectivity.

A trillion-dollar global opportunity

The opportunity is substantial. The global sports goods market, comprising apparel, footwear, equipment, and accessories, was valued at nearly $700 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2036. Sports equipment alone accounts for a $140-billion market and is expected to grow steadily over the next decade. Global exports of sports equipment are estimated at about $52 billion annually, dominated by China, which commands 40-50% of world exports across categories. Other major exporters include the US, Taiwan, Germany, and Vietnam.

India’s sports goods market remains relatively small in scale despite having a sizeable manufacturing base. The total market size is currently estimated at about $2.5 billion, of which around $0.5 billion comprises sports equipment. India’s domestic market accounts for less than 1% of the global sports goods market.

In 2024, the country exported sports equipment worth just $275 million, largely concentrated in cricket gear, inflatable balls, boxing equipment, and weightlifting products. Lakhlani said India has strong domestic manufacturing capability across categories such as cricket equipment, footballs, and fitness gear. However, premium segments—including certain grades of leather cricket balls and advanced composite materials—have historically been import-dependent.

At present, India imports nearly 63% of the sports equipment consumed domestically from China, followed by Japan and the US. NITI Aayog estimates that sports equipment could become a high-impact manufacturing opportunity for India, with exports potentially rising to $8.1 billion by 2036—equivalent to about 11% of global exports—and generating nearly 5.4 million jobs.

MSMEs at the heart of growth

India’s sports goods manufacturing is heavily reliant on clusters such as Jalandhar and Meerut, which together host over 250 exporting units, 1,000 domestic-focused firms, 4,000 micro enterprises, and nearly 20,000 household units. Other key hubs include Ludhiana (bicycles) and Delhi and Mumbai (sports accessories and apparel). The sector remains overwhelmingly MSME-driven, with small and micro enterprises accounting for nearly 90% of production.

Tamil Nadu already hosts a dense network of MSMEs across textiles, leather goods, auto components, plastics, precision engineering, and electronics—industries that share supply chains and manufacturing processes with sports equipment production. The State’s growing non-leather footwear ecosystem, supported by investments from global brands, further strengthens its credentials.

MSMEs can play a critical role in segments such as sports apparel, footwear, protective gear, cycling components, rackets, sports flooring, and fitness equipment, leveraging their manufacturing flexibility, skilled workforce, and established vendor networks. However, growth remains constrained by high raw material costs relative to China and Pakistan, expensive land and certification requirements, logistics inefficiencies, limited mechanisation, and weak linkages with global brands.

Why Tamil Nadu stands out

For Tamil Nadu, sports goods manufacturing represents a natural extension of its existing industrial strengths. The State already has globally integrated supply chains in automobiles, electronics, and textiles—sectors that can support the production of advanced sports equipment and components.

“Tamil Nadu’s case is compelling and, in our view, under-appreciated. Our Madurai facility serves as a proof of concept for what the State can offer the broader sports goods industry. Tamil Nadu provides a skilled workforce, a strong textile and rubber-processing heritage relevant to cricket-ball manufacturing, reliable industrial infrastructure, and efficient port connectivity through Chennai,” Lakhlani said.

The NITI Aayog report recommends establishing new sports goods manufacturing clusters in port-linked locations, with Tamil Nadu among the leading contenders due to its industrial readiness, logistics network, and availability of developed industrial land. Upgrading testing facilities, encouraging global anchor investments, and creating domestic supply chains for advanced materials such as carbon fibre and composites are seen as critical next steps.

With targeted policy support and cluster-based development, Tamil Nadu’s industrial ecosystem, logistics network, and MSME base could position the State as a key pillar of India’s ambition to become a global sports goods manufacturing and export hub.