Surat decline by the end of 18th century.
(i) The port of Surat declined mainly because of the growing power of the European Companies in India.
(ii) These European Companies gradually gained power and started to control sea-trade in India.
(iii) They secured a variety of concessions which they obtained from the local court and by gaining monopoly rights to trade.
(iv) These companies did not want to use the old ports of Surat, Masulipatanam, and Hoogly etc.
(v) Instead, they developed the ports of Bombay.
