Export clusters in West Bengal and what they make
Much of West Bengal's export manufacturing is in and around Kolkata: jute mills, leather units (ODOP lists leather goods for both Kolkata and South 24 Parganas) and engineering works in Howrah. Craft districts such as Bankura, Birbhum and Nadia lie further from the city and are quoted as Band C.
| Cluster | Products | Verified fact |
|---|---|---|
| Jute mill belt | Hessian, sacking, jute bags, jute floor coverings, yarn | 89 of India's 120 composite jute mills (Dec 2025); India's FY26 exports included jute hessian worth US$112.46 million and jute floor coverings worth US$76.32 million (IBEF, updated Oct 2026). ODOP product "Jute diversified products" in North 24 Parganas and Uttar Dinajpur |
| Kolkata | Leather bags, wallets, belts, gloves; kids' wear | Listed by the Council for Leather Exports as a production centre (2026); ODOP products "Leather goods" and "Kids wear/ Readymade Garments" |
| Birbhum (Santiniketan) | Embossed leather bags and accessories | Santiniketan Leather Goods is a registered GI (IP India, application 104, valid to July 2027) |
| Bankura | Terracotta horses, figures, planters; Dokra metal craft; Baluchari sarees | Bankura Panchmura Terracotta Craft is a registered GI (IP India, application 453, certificate March 2018); ODOP products "Terracota", "Dokra" and "Baluchari" |
| Nadia, Hooghly, Murshidabad, Malda | Handloom sarees (Shantipur, Dhaniakhali, Jamdani), silk sarees and scarves | ODOP handloom and silk products for each district (Invest India ODOP list) |
| Howrah | Engineering goods, castings, jewellery | ODOP products "Engineering Goods" and "Gems & Jewellery" |
Port. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata handles containers at Netaji Subhas Dock, where new Berths 7 and 8 took their first container ship in July 2026, and also runs the Haldia Dock Complex (PSU Watch, July 2026).
Products we inspect in West Bengal
- Jute: jute shopping and promotional bags, hessian and sacking and jute rugs. Moisture, batching-oil odour, handle strength and size are the usual problems; see jute and coir inspection.
- Leather: leather handbags, wallets and small leather goods and leather work gloves.
- Terracotta and craft: terracotta planters, terracotta and earthenware and figurines such as Bankura horses and Dokra pieces, where breakage in transit is the main risk.
- Textiles: handloom sarees, silk fabrics and children's clothing.
How coverage and travel work in West Bengal
Kolkata is one of our six inspector bases. Inspections in Kolkata are Band B: US$249 per man-day plus a fixed travel charge of US$99 per man-day, usually with same-day to 3 working days' notice. Factories elsewhere in the state are Band C: an inspector travels from Kolkata and the actual travel cost is quoted before you book, with up to 5 working days' notice. Use the coverage lookup to check your factory's town.
- Jute and leather in one trip. Mills and leather units around Kolkata can often be visited on consecutive days by the same inspector.
- Monsoon. From about June to September, humidity raises the risk of mould on jute and leather in cartons. We check moisture, storage and packing on the day.
- Festivals. Many units close for several days around Durga Puja, in September or October.
- Loading. Container loading supervision at the factory checks count, cartons and the container before sealing.
See pricing for all fees.
How to book an inspection in West Bengal
Send the product, the factory's address and the ready date through the booking form, with your specification, label artwork and photos of the approved sample. Within 24 hours we confirm the inspector, the notice we need, the man-days and the price. The report arrives within 24 hours of the inspection with a verdict of Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared.
Sources
- IBEF: Jute industry and exports in India (updated Oct 2026)
- Council for Leather Exports: Overview of the Indian Leather Industry 2026
- IP India GI registry: Bankura Panchmura Terracotta Craft (application 453)
- IP India GI registry: Santiniketan Leather Goods (application 104)
- Invest India: ODOP product list (Feb 2026)
- PSU Watch: Kolkata Port marks Syama Prasad Mookerjee's birth anniversary with twin maritime milestones (7 Jul 2026)
Are you a quality inspector in West Bengal?
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.