Vaishyas or Komatis played active role in internal and external trade. Arab traders and Portuguese traders supplied best breed horses to Qutb Shahis. Telugu works Sukasapthati and Hamsavimsati are providing details about external trade of this age. After the advent of European trading companies into Qutb Shahi kingdom, Masulipatnam, Kondapalli, Narasapuram, Madras, and Golconda have emerged as famous trading centers. Internal trade was carried on bullock carts, oxen, donkeys, tangas. Masulipatnam, Motupalli, Narasapuram etc., are chief ports of the kingdom From Masulipatnam Port best quality textiles were exported to European countries. Vasumata and Visnudasa are two rich traders of this period. Pilgrimage centers like Tirupati, Srisailam, Srikalahasti also became famous trading centers. Golconda, Hyderabad, Warangal, Masulipatnam, Kondapalli, Penugonda are main urban centers. Rural economy was in a good condition. Weekly fairs or angadis used to be held every week in big and small villages. Trade links between present Telangana. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra and Bengal flourished. ‘Perikas’ carried goods, grain etc., from place to place in jute sacks on their heads or oxen. The traders of Golconda maintained trade relations with the tradesmen of Gulbarga, Aurangabad, Bijapur and Madras. The rural level products were sold out in the local markets or angadis. Artisans and traders also migrated from place to place on trade pursuits. Ship-building industry flourished at Narsapur and Masulipatnam, Nirmal and Indur were famous for Iron industry Best quality swords were produced here. Hyderabad via Nalgonda, Kondapalli, and Vijayawada traders used to reach Machilipatnam.

The Qutb Shahi Sultans encouraged trade by extending many tax concessions and facilities to traders. They provided security to traders and their merchandise. They appointed special officers to check the weights and measurements to protect public from any type of cheating by traders. The chief currency of Qutb Shahi kingdom was Honnu, a gold coin. Foreigners described it as ‘Pagoda’. Panam, Thaar, Kasu are other units of Qutb Shahi currency. Karkhanas are established by Sultans to produce clothes and other needed articles for the royal family. Among the exports of this period, dress, cloth, diamonds, carpets, indigo, best quality swords etc., occupied important place. The chief imports from Arabia, Central Asia and Europe include horses, spices, gold, lead, dates and crockery.