India’s exports from special economic zones rose 11.8 percent year-on-year to Rs 16,36,192 crore ($185.28 billion) in 2025-26, the government told Parliament.Exports in 2024-25 were Rs 14,63,669 crore ($173.07 billion), said Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.Gujarat recorded the highest SEZ exports at Rs 4,05,595 crore. It was followed by Karnataka at Rs 2,69,004 crore, Maharashtra at Rs 2,43,422.50 crore and Tamil Nadu at Rs 2,12,288 crore.In a separate reply, the minister said pharma exports rose from $15.43 billion in 2014-15 to $31.12 billion in 2025-26, a compound annual growth rate of about 6.6 percent. Maharashtra contributed about 19 percent of pharma shipments.The government said it takes steps to improve SEZ utilisation, attract investment and link the zones with domestic supply chains.

The Budget for 2026-27 also proposed letting eligible SEZ units sell a share of output in the domestic market at concessional duties.