India

India

Global Trade Profile β€’ Rank #12 Exporter

$455.43B

Total Exports (2023)

$664.68B

Total Imports (2023)

$209.25B

Trade Deficit

#12

Export Ranking

Trade Flow Visualization

Interactive map showing India's top trading partners. Green lines represent exports, red lines represent imports.

#12

Export Rank

$455.43B

Total Exports

$664.68B

Total Imports

-$209.25B

Trade Balance

30

Trade Partners

🌍 Top Export Destinations

Top Export Products

#1Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, ...
17.5%$79.55B
#2Diamonds: non-industrial, (other than unworked or ...
4.3%$19.51B
#3Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed produc...
4.0%$18.07B
#4Telephones for cellular networks or for other wire...
3.5%$15.79B
#5Jewellery: of precious metal (excluding silver) wh...
2.4%$11.06B
#6Cereals: rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, wheth...
2.2%$9.87B
#7Aluminium: unwrought, (not alloyed)
1.1%$5.06B
#8Crustaceans: frozen, shrimps and prawns, excluding...
1.0%$4.44B
#9Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combus...
0.9%$4.12B
#10Meat: of bovine animals, boneless cuts, frozen
0.7%$3.17B

πŸ“₯ Top Import Sources

Top Import Products

#1Oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bitumi...
21.0%$139.78B
#2Metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not pow...
6.1%$40.36B
#3Coal: (other than anthracite and bituminous), whet...
4.7%$31.56B
#4Diamonds: non-industrial, unworked or simply sawn,...
2.0%$13.60B
#5Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: li...
2.0%$13.09B
#6Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, ...
1.8%$11.69B
#7Electronic integrated circuits: processors and con...
1.5%$10.09B
#8Aeroplanes and other aircraft: of an unladen weigh...
1.5%$10.04B
#9Telephone sets and other apparatus for the transmi...
1.4%$9.47B
#10Coal: bituminous, whether or not pulverised, but n...
1.2%$8.26B

πŸ“ˆ Historical Trade Trends (1995-2023)

29 Years

Data Coverage

29

Data Points

πŸ“ˆ

Trend Direction

India Trade Analysis 2023

πŸ“Š Overview

#12
Global Export Rank
1.12T
Total Trade Volume
5.60%
Share of Global Trade

India stands as the world's #12 largest exporter and #8 largest importer, demonstrating significant global trade influence.

The trade profile reveals a deficit of 209.25 billion, reflecting import dependencies for growth.

⚠️
Trade deficit of 31.5% of imports requires careful management of external financing.
455.43B
Total Exports
664.68B
Total Imports
0.69
Export/Import Ratio

The country maintains active trading relationships with 20 major partners, creating a highly diversified trade network.

Monthly trade flows average $93.34B, generating continuous economic activity across logistics, finance, and trade services.

🚒 Export Markets

USA
United Arab Emirates
Netherlands
China
United Kingdom
Others

Export Market Concentration

17.9%
$81.36B
4.9%$22.46B
3.9%$17.79B
3.0%$13.80B
3.0%$13.61B
2.5%$11.27B
13 others
23.9%$108.98B

Export concentration shows USA as the dominant market at 17.9%. The top three markets control 29.7% of exports.

36.6%
Top 5 Markets
49.2%
Top 10 Markets
20
Total Partners

Regional patterns reveal globally balanced access. Secondary markets (Germany, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh) provide $57.17B in additional trade.

πŸ“¦ Import Sources

Import Source Concentration

18.0%
$119.91B
10.0%$66.15B
6.3%$42.10B
5.2%$34.75B
4.5%$29.84B
3.5%$23.03B
13 others
26.7%$177.14B

India relies heavily on China for imports (18.0%),maintaining balanced sourcing.

Energy suppliers including United Arab Emirates (38.06B), Saudi Arabia (34.75B), Qatar (12.93B) collectively provide 95.22 billion or 14.3% of imports, highlighting the economy's dependence on imported energy resources.

Manufacturing inputs come primarily from China, Indonesia, Rep. of Korea, Malaysia, reflecting deep integration into Asian production networks. China's dominant position at 119.91 billion encompasses electronics components, textiles, machinery parts, and consumer goods, creating both efficiency benefits and concentration risks.

The USA provides 42.10 billion (6.3%) in imports, concentrated in agricultural products, aircraft, pharmaceuticals, and advanced technology.The top 10 import sources account for 62.1% of total imports, with the remaining 38% distributed among 10 other suppliers.

Regional sourcing patterns reveal strong ASEAN integration with 4 Southeast Asian nations providing 55.29 billion (8.3%) of imports. European suppliers including Germany (17.99B) focus on luxury goods, machinery, and specialized chemicals.

Supply chain resilience strategies increasingly emphasize "China Plus One" approaches, with Thailand, Viet Namemerging as alternative manufacturing bases. The geographic proximity of major suppliers balances efficiency with risk diversification.

πŸ“¦ Product Composition

πŸš€ Export Products

Top Export Products

preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or mo...
17.5%
$79.55B
non-industrial, (other than unworked or simply saw...
4.3%$19.51B
consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in ...
4.0%$18.07B
Telephones for cellular networks or for other wire...
3.5%$15.79B
of precious metal (excluding silver) whether or no...
2.4%$11.06B
3 others
4.3%$19.37B

India's export economy centers on diversified industrial production, with the leading export being preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous mineralsat $79.55 billion, accounting for 17.5% of total exports.

Vehicle-related products including passenger cars, hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, and automotive parts total approximately 8.90 billion or 2.0% of exports, encompassing 3 distinct product categories. Electronics, semiconductors, and machinery contribute 24.80 billion or 5.4% of exports.

The automotive sector's dominance is evident in the export portfolio, with with only spark-ignition internal combustion recip... (4.12B), n.e.c. in heading no. 8708 (2.81B). This automotive specialization reflects decades of manufacturing excellence, continuous innovation in fuel efficiency and hybrid technology, and established global brand recognition.

The transition to electric and hybrid vehicles is captured in export data, with 2 categories specifically related to alternative propulsion systems, totaling $3.84B.

Beyond automotive, India maintains strong positions in industrial machinery (1 categories totaling 2.45B), electronic components (22.36B), and Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude, Diamonds, Medicaments.

The top 20 export products collectively account for 42.5% of total exports, revealing healthy product diversification across multiple sectors.

πŸ›’ Import Products

Top Import Products

petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous m...
21.0%
$139.78B
gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder)...
6.1%$40.36B
(other than anthracite and bituminous), whether or...
4.7%$31.56B
non-industrial, unworked or simply sawn, cleaved o...
2.0%$13.60B
liquefied, natural gas...
2.0%$13.09B
3 others
4.8%$31.82B

Energy dominates India's import profile, with fossil fuels accounting for 215.95 billion or 32.5% of total imports. Crude oil leads at 139.78 billion (21.0%), followed by natural gas and coal. This energy import dependency shapes economic policy, inflation dynamics, and strategic relationships with supplier nations.

πŸ”‘

Key Finding: Energy Dependency

Energy imports of $215.95B account for 32.5% of all imports, making India vulnerable to global energy price fluctuations and supply disruptions.

Beyond energy, critical imports include gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not p... (40.36B, 6.1%), non-industrial, unworked or simply sawn,... (13.60B, 2.0%), processors and controllers, whether or n... (10.09B, 1.5%), of an unladen weight exceeding 15,000kg (10.04B, 1.5%), parts (9.47B, 1.4%).Electronic components and devices total 37.41 billion (5.6% of imports), supporting domestic manufacturing and assembly operations.

The import product mix reveals structural characteristics of India's economy: heavy reliance on imported energy despite industrial advancement, integration into global electronics supply chains, and sophisticated consumption patterns.

The ratio of raw materials to finished goods in imports (8 : 12among top 20 products) indicates balanced import composition. Import substitution potential exists in technology sectors through targeted industrial policies and investment.

Product diversification metrics reveal focused product specializationwith implications for economic resilience and growth potential. The technology ladder progression from 8 primary products to 8 high-tech goods indicates the economy's structural transformation and industrial upgrading trajectory.

Value addition opportunities exist in transitioning from raw material exports to processed goods, from components to finished products, and from standard to customized offerings. The product space connectivity, measuring relatedness between current exports and potential new products, suggests strong potential for diversification into adjacent sophisticated products.

βš–οΈ Trade Balance Dynamics

-209.25 billion
Trade Deficit β€’ 18.68% of total trade
PartnerExportsImportsBalance
China$17.79B$119.91B$-102.12B
USA$81.36B$42.10B+$39.26B
United Arab Emirates$31.41B$38.06B$-6.65B
Russian Federation$0$66.15B$-66.15B
Saudi Arabia$11.27B$34.75B$-23.49B

Export-to-import ratio of 0.685 means exports cover 68.5% of import costs.

πŸ”— Key Relationships

Major Trading Partners

PartnerExportsImportsBalance
China$17.79B$119.91B$-102.12B
USA$81.36B$42.10B+$39.26B
United Arab Emirates$31.41B$38.06B$-6.65B
Russian Federation$0$66.15B$-66.15B
Saudi Arabia$11.27B$34.75B$-23.49B
Germany$13.61B$17.99B$-4.38B
Indonesia$8.04B$23.03B$-14.99B
Iraq$0$29.84B$-29.84B
Total$163.48B$371.83B$-208.35B

The India-China relationship leads at 137.70 billion in bilateral trade.View detailed analysis β†’

Additional major partnerships include United Arab Emirates (69.47B total trade), Russian Federation (66.15B total trade), Saudi Arabia (46.02B total trade). Regional integration through Asian supply chains facilitates technology transfer, market access, and production efficiency. The diversity of trading relationshipsβ€”587.89B across top 10 partnersβ€”provides resilience against bilateral tensions and regional disruptions.

πŸ† Competitive Position

πŸ’‘

Competitive Advantage

India's #12 global ranking is driven by specialization in primary commodities, accounting for 25.7% of export value.

Global rankings position India as the #12 exporter worldwide,within the major trading nations. The country's share of global exports at approximately 4.554%provides substantial market influence and pricing power.

Export sophistication, measured by the dominance of primary commodities, indicates potential for value chain upgrading. The revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index shows strongest competitiveness in sectors where India's global market share exceeds its overall trade share by factors of 2 or more.

Competitive advantages emerge in sectors where export concentration exceeds import share, particularly inpreparations n.e.c. conta, non-industrial, (other th, consisting of mixed or un. The revealed comparative advantage is strongest in product categories representing25.7% of exports. Market positioning against regional competitors shows leadership in key product segments.

Trade complementarity with major partners suggests deep integration into global supply chains. The export quality ladder, comparing unit values to world averages, indicates premium positioning in many categories.

Competitive dynamics are shaped by factor endowments including advanced technology and skilled labor, infrastructure quality, and business environment. The export survival rate, measuring the persistence of export relationships over time, suggests need for relationship strengthening.

Innovation capacity, reflected in the technology content of exports and R&D intensity, determines long-term competitiveness trajectories. The competitive threat from emerging exporters in similar product categories requires continuous upgrading and differentiation strategies to maintain market position. Regional integration through trade agreements provides preferential access to0 markets, creating competitive advantages over non-member competitors.

🎯 Strategic Outlook

ℹ️

Strategic Priority

With a trade deficit of 209.25B, focus should be on export promotion in high-value sectors and strategic import substitution.

The trade profile presents both opportunities and challenges for economic development strategy. Key strengths include strong import capacity enabling technology transfer and consumption growth,diversified market access reducing concentration risk, and competitive positions in essential commodities.

Vulnerabilities include product concentration in cyclical sectors. The intersection of these factors creates a complex strategic landscape requiring careful navigation to maximize opportunities while mitigating risks.

Strategic priorities should focus on export promotion and import substitution to enhance trade competitiveness. Opportunities exist in expanding trade with China, Hong Kong SAR, Türkiye, Indonesia, developing new product capabilities in higher technology sectors, and strengthening regional integration through new partnership frameworks.

The digital transformation of trade, including e-commerce, digital services, and blockchain-based trade finance, offers new avenues for market access and efficiency gains. Green trade opportunities in renewable energy, sustainable products, and carbon markets represent growing segments aligned with global sustainability goals.

The evolving global trade environment, characterized by technological disruption, geopolitical realignment, and sustainability imperatives, will fundamentally reshape India's trade prospects. Success requires balanced policies addressing both improving export capacity while ensuring sustainable import financing.

Investment in infrastructure, education, and innovation ecosystems will determine the ability to climb value chains and capture larger shares of global value addition. The resilience agenda, emphasizing supply chain robustness, strategic autonomy in critical sectors, and economic security considerations, must be balanced with efficiency and openness principles.

As global trade patterns continue evolving, India's position as the world's #12 exporter provides a platform for continued growth, requiring adaptive strategies, institutional strengthening, and sustained commitment to competitiveness enhancement in an increasingly complex and interconnected global economy.

Data Notes

Data from CEPII BACI database, harmonized using UN Comtrade methodology. All values in current USD at 2023 exchange rates. Trade statistics cover merchandise goods only, excluding services. Mirror statistics reconciliation applied for data consistency. 2024 data available January 2026. HS6 product classification follows 2017 revision.

Data source: CEPII BACI | Last updated: January 2025 | Next update: January 2026