Its sugarcane industry contributes to over 5% of the sugarcane produced in the country and accounts to a significant share of sugar, jaggery and baggase produced. It is fast becoming an industrialized district as well and already a front‐runner in agro‐based industries. It is one of the shining examples in the co‐operative movement of India, with around 11,338 societies in the district. The industries in Kolhapur mainly comprise sugar industries,textile mills, engineering units and foundry units. There are nine industrial estates in Kolhapur, three Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporations(MIDC) and remaining are corporate industrial estates with 1,207 functioning units.Kagal MIDC is a "5 star MIDC".Main companies include Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited,Wilo pumps(Mather and Platt Ltd), Vardhaman Textiles, Raymond Textiles,Menon Group,Oswal textiles,Undercarriage and tractor parts, Manugraph India Ltd, Gokul Milk, Eurotex,Kolhapur Steel,Indocount Industries,Ghatge Patil Industries,Sanjay Ghodawat Industries Ltd.,R.M.Mohite group.Presently kolhapur has around 300 foundry units which are responsible for around Rs.1500 crore exports per year.The "foundry cluster" project is further aiming to extend the exports up to Rs.5000 crores.Also Ichalkaranji which is a city in kolhapur district, popularly known as "Manchester of the Maharashtra"is witnessing a Mega cluster of power looms.In 2012, Kolhapur has been declared by the central government as the Export city which is the only city from Maharashtra.The Textile SEZ is situated at Kagal.
Its rich legacy, tradition an culture, presence of Mahalaxmi temple, palaces, various arts makes the city ideal tourist destination. The city attracts approximately three million tourists every year.
Kolhapur is also known for the film industry. Maharashtra Film Company was established in Kolhapur on 1929 by Baburao Painter which was a remarkable effort due to which Kolhapur became one of the primary center
