Tuesday, May 5, 2026
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Andalusia TRADE organizes a trade mission for the naval sector in India following the free trade agreement with the EU

Andalusia TRADE promotes the participation of Andalusian companies in the Indian market through a trade mission in Mumbai, in the context of the recent free trade agreement with the EU.

Editorial team··Enterprises·4 minPrint
Andalusia TRADE organizes a trade mission for the naval sector in India following the free trade agreement with the EU

Andalusia TRADE has organized a trade mission on maritime logistics and the naval sector in India, which is held from February 2 to 5, 2026, in the city of Mumbai. This action takes place at a key moment, following the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and India, dubbed 'the mother of all trade agreements' for creating a market of over 2 billion people.

The objective of the trade mission is to increase the presence of Andalusian companies in one of the most strategic markets with the highest growth and international projection in port management. The Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras, along with four Andalusian companies, have traveled to India as participants in this trade mission, all of them from the province of Cádiz, to hold an agenda with over 50 business meetings: Blay Marine Tech (BMT), Zener Marine Elevator Services, Sandvik Marine Electronics, and Talleres Navales Valencia (Tanaval).

In the first eleven months of 2025, Andalusia has consolidated itself as the second largest autonomous community exporting to India, with 22.7% of the national total, only behind Catalonia (30%). Andalusian sales to the Asian country reached 443 million euros, with a year-on-year growth of 17.9%, which marks a historical record for the period. The trade balance is favorable to the region, with a surplus of 127 million euros and a coverage rate of 140%. India ranks as the 14th market for Andalusian exports, with 1.2% of the global total.

According to reports from Andalucía TRADE, the maritime logistics sector in India is undergoing a profound transformation process, due to the growth of foreign trade, industrial expansion, and public reforms aimed at improving port competitiveness. The country has 12 main ports and over 200 intermediate and minor ports, managing approximately 95% of the volume of international merchandise trade and over 70% of its economic value.

The Indian government is making significant investments to modernize the port network and its logistic connections through strategic programs that promote intermodal logistics, the development of port logistics zones, dedicated freight corridors, and multimodal nodes that connect ports with the main industrial centers in the interior of the country. This context creates opportunities for Andalusian companies in areas such as port infrastructure, logistics engineering, digital solutions, traceability, cold chain management, and terminal automation.

For its part, the Indian naval sector is undergoing a phase of expansion and modernization, due to the increase in maritime trade, the renewal of the merchant fleet, and the country's naval defense programs. India has a wide network of public and private shipyards capable of constructing merchant ships, tankers, offshore vessels, and military ships.

The competitive position of Andalusian companies in India benefits from the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and India. It is the largest trade agreement signed worldwide, involving a population of 2 billion people and includes a reduction in tariffs that will result in savings of 4 billion euros for European products. The agreement provides for tariff cuts and greater regulatory predictability for sectors such as automotive components, chemicals, plastics, and industrial machinery.

By exported products, there is a clear leadership of the aerospace sector. Aircraft, spacecraft, and their parts lead exports reaching 298 million euros, 67% of the total, after growing by 35% compared to the first eleven months of 2024. Distantly, machines, apparatus, and electrical materials stand with 33 million (7.4%) and a growth of 22.7%, followed by olive oil, which records 20.7 million (4.7%) despite a decrease of 23.9%.

By provinces, Seville leads with 376 million euros, 85% of the total, after growing by 27.6%. Córdoba follows at a distance, with 18.5 million (4.2%), followed by Almería, with 16.2 million (3.7%), and Cádiz, which records a growth of 45% up to 15.2 million (3.4%). The provincial map is completed by Granada, Jaén, Málaga, and Huelva, all below ten million euros.

Andalusia TRADE has intensified its activity in the Indian market during 2025, with a balance of 111 participating companies in a total of 38 promotional and support actions for internationalization with India as the target market. Among the initiatives are the direct mission of the aerospace sector held in February, the prospecting visit to the AHAAR India fair in March, the development of 16 individual support projects for Andalusian companies, as well as the organization of informational days focused on business opportunities in India.

Andalusia TRADE's strategy in this market is supported by a permanent presence in India through its Business Antenna in New Delhi. India is part of the group of preferred markets for the agency, as it is an emerging economy with high growth potential. The organization of this trade mission will be co-financed with funds from the European Union, funded by the Andalusia 2021-2027 FEDER Operational Program, endowed with a community contribution of 85%.

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