Export clusters in Punjab and what they make
Punjab's export manufacturing is mostly light engineering and textiles, made by small and medium firms in three cities. Only one Punjab town is a Town of Export Excellence: Ludhiana, for woollen knitwear.
| Cluster | Main export products | Verified fact (source) |
|---|---|---|
| Ludhiana | Woollen knitwear and sweaters, bicycles and bicycle parts, hand tools | TEE for woollen knitwear (DGFT). 75% of India's bicycle production and 92% of bicycle parts, more than 60,000 bicycles a day (The Tribune, June 2024). Named as a hand tool cluster (PIB, April 2025) |
| Jalandhar | Inflatable balls, cricket bats and balls, protective gear, boxing equipment, hockey sticks; hand tools | About 60% of the sports goods made in Jalandhar are inflatable balls (district administration, updated March 2026). Named as a hand tool cluster (PIB, April 2025) |
| Amritsar | Shawls, tweeds, blazers, blankets | The Shawl Club of India puts Punjab's shawl exports to the UK at nearly ₹500 crore a year (president's estimate, reported by The Tribune, 27 Jul 2025) |
Products we inspect in Punjab
- Woollens: woollen knitwear, wool shawls and woollen blankets. See the wool and woollens inspection overview.
- Bicycles and tools: bicycle parts and hand tools such as spanners, pliers and hammers.
- Sports goods: footballs and inflatable balls, cricket bats, cricket balls, boxing equipment and hockey sticks. See the sporting goods inspection overview.
Engineering goods from Ludhiana and Jalandhar need measured checks rather than a visual look: hardness and jaw opening on tools, thread and alignment on bicycle parts. Tell us the drawing, tolerances and any test method when you book, so the inspector brings the right gauges.
How coverage and travel work in Punjab
We have no inspector base in Punjab. Inspectors travel from Delhi NCR, our nearest base, so every Punjab factory is in Band C: the actual travel cost is quoted before you book, and we need up to 5 working days' notice. The inspection fee is US$249 per man-day, the same as everywhere; see pricing.
Ludhiana and Jalandhar are close to each other, so when you have orders in both cities we can plan them on consecutive days to share one trip. Mohali, Patiala, Mandi Gobindgarh and the rest of the state are covered the same way.
Rules and registrations worth knowing
Fibre content. Woollen knitwear and shawls are often blends. In the US, the Wool Products Labeling Act requires the true blend on the label. Canada has its own textile labelling rules, and in the EU Regulation 1007/2011 does the same. An inspection checks the label against the order; the blend itself is a lab test.
Sports protective equipment. Cricket helmets and some protective gear sold in Europe count as personal protective equipment and need certification. We check that the certificate matches the model and markings on the goods.
Phulkari. Phulkari embroidery is a registered geographical indication covering Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan (GI application 27, certificate 2010). A GI protects the name only, not a particular supplier.
How to book an inspection in Punjab
Send the product, the factory's city and address, and the ready date through the booking form, or use the prefilled form for Ludhiana. Include your specification, drawings or tolerances for engineered parts, and approved-sample photos.
We confirm the inspector, man-days and travel cost within 24 hours. The report follows within 24 hours of the inspection, after supervisor review, with a verdict of Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared.
Sources
- DGFT, Appendix 1B: List of Towns of Export Excellence (Ludhiana, woollen knitwear)
- The Tribune: Bicycle industry demands incentive boost to push exports (14 Jun 2024)
- Jalandhar district administration: Sports Hub (updated 12 Mar 2026)
- PIB factsheet: Unlocking $25+ Billion Exports in India's Hand & Power Tools Sector (22 Apr 2025)
- The Tribune: City textile, woollen industry hails India-UK free trade agreement (27 Jul 2025)
- IP India GI registry: Phulkari (application 27)
Are you a quality inspector in Punjab?
We work with vetted freelance inspectors near the factories we check. You take assignments in your own area, inspect to our checklist, and Clear To Load pays you, never the factory. Apply to inspect with us.