For the last fiscal year 2014-15, Maharashtra and Gujarat remain the top two states in volume of exports at Rs 4.45 lakh crore and Rs 3.64 lakh crore respectively — that works out to a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 16% for Maharashtra for the last five years and over 14% for Gujarat. But it’s Bihar that’s registered the highest CAGR — of over 78 per cent annually between 2009-10 and 2014-15, led by export of cereals, mineral fuels, edible vegetables and pharmaceutical products. According to the latest state-wise export data for the last six years available with the Commerce Ministry, exports from Bihar rose from a modest Rs 351.34 crore in 2009-10 to Rs 6,310.93 crore in 2014-15, moving from 24th position amongst state in 2009-10 to 17th position last fiscal. At Rs 6,310 crore, Bihar’s exports are still a small fraction of Maharashtra or Gujarat’s but its dramatic growth, experts said, is a combination of low base, better maintenance of export database in the last few years along with steps taken by the state government to enhance industrial activities in the state. Officials from the state’s industry department say that the rise in exports can be partly attributed to the phenomenal growth of the food processing industry over the last few years along with mineral fuels sector. “Maize is one item that has done exceptionally well over the last few years. Several mega food parks have come up and different variants of maize are being experimented with,” an official said. The official added that several small pharmaceutical units have also come up, mainly for generic drugs and herbal preparations, contributing to the growth in exports. According to the commerce ministry data, Bihar exported cereals worth Rs 982 crore in 2014-15, mineral fuels and oils worth Rs 4,534.65 crore and pharmaceutical products worth over Rs 222 crore. “Earlier, states like Bihar were not able to prepare their data correctly. Now states are better aware so there has been an improvement in the numbers. Further, the state also had a low base and the growth should be viewed accordingly. However, these factors notwithstanding, the state has done well and it is reflected in the export numbers,” Ajay Sahai, director general, Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO), said. Further, apart from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh has also witnessed a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.55 per cent in exports during the above mentioned period, growing from Rs 26,204.07 crore in 2009-10 to Rs 85,034.43 crore in last fiscal. The major exports from Uttar Pradesh last year were meat and edible meat worth Rs 14,369 crore, carpets Rs 4,050 crore, apparel Rs 5,719 crore, footwear Rs 6,109 crore, pearls and precious stones Rs 4,045 crore, copper Rs 2,402 crore, road vehicles and parts Rs 3,593 crore and cereals worth Rs 2,316 crore among other items. “Several meat processing units, and auto units have come up in Noida, Ghaziabad. That is getting reflected in the exports from UP. Also, the state had a low base,” Sahai said. Dadra and Uttaranchal also witnessed growth rates of 36.45 per cent and 59.46 per cent, respectively during the six-year period on the back of high growth in exports of organic chemical, pharmaceutical products, man-made filaments, other made up textiles, aluminium articles and medical equipment in case of Dadra while gums resins, preparations of vegetables, fruits, organic chemical, and plastics with regards to Uttaranchal.
