Surat, which was an important trade centre during the Mughal period, began to decline towards the end of the seventeenth century. This was because of the following factors:
- Because of the decline of the Mughal Empire, Surat faced a huge loss of markets and productivity
- The control of the sea routes went into the hands of the Portuguese
- Surat could not complete with Bombay were the English East India Company shifted its headquarters in 1668.