Trade and industry was very much developed in Gupta period. 

Their internal trade and foreign trade can be understood as follows :

Internal Trade – In the Gupta period, trade and industry were at their peak. Internal trade was conducted through roads and rivers. Among the items of internal trade were included almost all commodities of daily use, which were mainly sold in the markets of cities and villages. Luxury products included articles brought from distant lands.

Ujjain, Bharuch, Pratisthan, Vidisha, Prayag, Patliputra, Vaishali, Tamralipti, Mathura, Ahichchatra, Kaushambi etc. were important commercial cities.

Foreign Trade – Indian ports had permanent sea trade connections with many foreign countries. These countries were China, Sri Lanka, Perisa, Arabia, Ethiopia, Byzentine (Roman empire) and islands of Indian ocean. In Gupta era, trade with China reached at a new height. Chinese silk called ‘Chinashunk’ was very popular in Indian markets.

The weakened western foreign trade due to fall of Roman empire became strong again upon establishment of the Byzantine empire. Commodities were exported from there, mainly included silk and spices. Bhrigukachch (Bharuch) was a famous port of the western coast.

Cambay, Sopara and Kalyan were other important ports. Tamralipti was the largest centre of sea trade in the eastern part of India. Merchant ships from Indonesia, China and Sri Lanka came here. India imported silk from China, ivory from Ethiopia and horses from Arabia, Iran and Bacteria.