UK manufacturers urged to act decisively on India

Prime Minister Keir Starmer arriving in India to lead the UK trade delegation

With India exploring a raft of international trade agreements, including securing a pact with the European Union in January 2026, a British engineering firm is encouraging UK exporters to act now to benefit from an impending UK-India trade deal.

With mounting competition from multiple countries, the news that India has chosen to defer its US trade deal to study the Supreme Court’s ruling on President Trump’s tariffs may offer British exporters a key window to secure Indian supply chain partners.

Dulas, an engineering firm which manufactures and exports cold chain systems for safely storing vaccines and blood to more than 40 countries, cautions UK manufacturers against missing out on this opportunity to break into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Their call has been echoed by the trade organisation Made in Britain, which represents 2,200 verified British manufacturers, highlighting the high demand for British-made products in India.

Ruth Chapman, executive managing director at Dulas, said: “Once the UK-India agreement is ratified, we expect a surge of UK firms entering the market and competition will intensify quickly, so I would urge British manufacturers to act decisively and start speaking with Indian trade partners now. India is eager to work with British manufacturers, and a trade deal represents an incredible export opportunity for those ready to move first.”

Pictured right: the UK Trade Delegation to India explore the ‘incredible export opportunity’. Photo: courtesy of Number 10 Downing Street

As India explores further trade deals, acting while the Indian delegation reconsiders its position on the US agreement may present a valuable window of opportunity. With ratification of the UK’s own deal not expected until the summer, businesses that move swiftly now may gain a valuable head start over domestic and international competitors. India is now the UK’s 11th largest trading partner, with trade between the two nations peaking at $47.5 billion in the third quarter of 2025, proving that the appetite for high-quality exports is surging.

John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain, said: “British exports to India increased by 11.7% in the last year, and we would expect that to increase incrementally once a new trade deal is ratified. The Made in Britain brand is very well respected in India, with past surveys by Barclays showing that people in India would pay almost 12% more for products made here.

“At moments like this, reputation and readiness matter. British products are recognised worldwide for their quality, social value and sustainability, and, as the UK-India trade deal moves closer to ratification, the opportunity for manufacturers is very real and very immediate.”

Dulas asserts that the Made in Britain accreditation plays a crucial role in building trust with international partners. Ruth Chapman, executive managing director at Dulas, said: “People’s perception of British-made products is that they are of high quality and high performance. The Made in Britain stamp gives us credibility straight away in that it carries real weight and reassures international buyers that they are investing in something dependable and expertly made.”

Dulas operates as part of the growing Made in Britain collective, which uses the international trademark to maximise its appeal to overseas buyers and strengthen its position in global export markets.