India's ambition to emerge as a hydrogen exporter will depend on more than competitive production costs, with port infrastructure, shipping reliability, long-term offtake agreements and domestic demand emerging as critical components of the country's ability to build an international supply chain.
Supply Chain
Speaking at the Horizons Clean Energy Expansion 2026 by S&P Global Energy, Daljit Singh Kohli, India Representative, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said European buyers assess the complete value chain rather than focusing on production costs alone."Price is also an important factor. When it says because price doesn't mean that what you're producing in India it has to be the delivered price over the long term in Europe," Kohli said.
Kohli said buyers also consider the reliability of supply, the ability of Indian companies to deliver committed volumes, certification and infrastructure readiness at both ends of the trade. The requirements extend beyond production facilities to storage infrastructure, loading facilities, shipping connectivity and the development of long-term offtake arrangements. For European buyers, the ability to establish a dependable supply corridor will be an important consideration alongside pricing.
Ajay Singh, Senior Executive Adviser, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, emphasised supply reliability as a key requirement for international energy trade. "The buyer is looking for a reliable source of supply. Energy security is paramount," he said.
Shipping readiness must also be assessed as part of the wider value chain, including ports, vessels, shipyards, crew training, operating standards and contingency arrangements. Ammonia handling, in particular, requires attention to safety and operational capabilities. He also stressed that Indian exporters' credibility will depend on delivering projects to high standards and ensuring reliable operations after commissioning. .
Port Readiness
The infrastructure requirements are also shaping India's approach to developing export capacity. Opesh Sharma, Director Shipping, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said the hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives sector remains an evolving space in which infrastructure development must be aligned with the timing of commercial demand.
Sharma pointed to the availability of land, renewable energy resources and ports willing to take on the risks associated with developing the sector. India has designated Deendayal Port in Gujarat, Paradip Port in Odisha and V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Tamil Nadu as Green Hydrogen Hubs, with infrastructure development underway across the three locations.
At Paradip Port, the government approved a Rs 797.17 crore dedicated green hydrogen and green ammonia jetty in February 2026. The proposed facility has a handling capacity of four million tonnes per annum and includes storage systems, pipelines and cargo-handling equipment. It is expected to be completed within 24 months under a build-operate-transfer model.
At Deendayal Port, a 1 MW electrolyser-based green hydrogen plant has been commissioned, while land has been allocated for green hydrogen and green ammonia projects. V.O. Chidambaranar Port has also developed a pilot green hydrogen facility and allocated land for related projects, according to government details.
These projects indicate progress in developing infrastructure for handling hydrogen and its derivatives. However, export competitiveness will also depend on securing buyers, meeting certification and safety requirements, and demonstrating reliable operations across the supply chain.
Contract Tenure, Domestic Demand
For project developers, the commercial structure of export agreements is another factor influencing investment decisions. Nishaanth Balashanmugam, CEO and Director, GH2 India, said large hydrogen projects require substantial investment in renewable power, production facilities and related infrastructure. He argued that longer-term contracts can help address the risks associated with these investments.
According to Balashanmugam, the contract-tenure discussions around the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) ammonia tenders evolved over two years, eventually resulting in 10-year contracts. The move highlights the importance of longer-term offtake commitments in reducing investment uncertainty and providing greater visibility on future demand for green ammonia.
While export markets remain a key area of opportunity, Sandeep Maurya, Senior Vice President, Aditya Birla Renewables, said India's domestic market could play an important role in developing the wider hydrogen ecosystem.
Maurya argued that India should build an integrated market rather than depend exclusively on overseas buyers, with domestic consumption, industrial collaboration, transport infrastructure and ecosystem-wide scaling supporting the sector's long-term development.
Building Competitiveness
India's hydrogen export ambitions are tied to several interconnected requirements, including competitive delivered prices, reliable supply, infrastructure readiness and commercial agreements that support long-term investment.
The government has set a target of producing 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, while recognising the three ports, Deendayal, Paradip and V.O. Chidambaranar, as Green Hydrogen Hubs to support production, consumption and future exports.
The developments suggest that India's export ambitions will depend on whether production capacity can be connected to reliable logistics, long-term buyers and commercially viable infrastructure. For Indian developers, the challenge will be to translate the country's renewable energy resources and industrial capabilities into projects that meet international buyer requirements while building a sustainable domestic market.