This interactive guide is based on data from India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Wikipedia article on its largest trading partners. Read the source article here. (opens in new tab)

India's Global Trade Nexus

An analytical exploration of India's key trading partners, dissecting bilateral flows and economic significance.

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Contextualizing Trade Dynamics

Significance of Trade Partners

India's economic landscape is significantly shaped by its international trade relationships. The fifteen largest trading partners, as reported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, collectively account for approximately 61.67% of India's total trade in goods and commodities for the financial year 2022-23. It is important to note that these figures specifically encompass merchandise trade and exclude trade in services and foreign direct investment (FDI), which represent distinct but crucial components of India's global economic engagement.

Key Commodities and Trade Balance

The primary drivers of India's merchandise trade balance are consistently mineral fuels (both refined and unrefined) and gold. In the financial year 2013-14, these two categories alone constituted a substantial portion of imports and re-exports, contributing significantly to the overall trade deficit. While merchandise trade often presents a deficit, India maintains a robust trade surplus in services, which helps to partially offset the merchandise imbalance. The World Trade Organization (WTO) recognizes India's growing prominence, ranking it fifth globally for commercial services exports and sixth for imports.

Major Trade Flows

Geographically, the European Union (EU) and the United States emerge as the principal destinations for India's exports. Conversely, India's imports are predominantly sourced from China and the EU. Understanding these directional flows is critical for analyzing India's position within the global supply chain and its strategic economic partnerships.

Overall Trade Performance

An overview of India's trade performance, encompassing both merchandise and services, provides essential context for understanding the nation's economic trajectory. The following table illustrates the trade balances across different financial years.

Merchandise and Services Trade

Overall Foreign Trade Data (in billion US$)
Financial Year Merchandise Exports Merchandise Imports Total Merchandise Trade Merchandise Trade Balance Service Exports Service Imports Total Service Trade Service Trade Balance Net Overall Trade
2024-25 437.416 720.243 1157.659 -282.827 387.540 198.717 586.257 +188.823 -94.004
2023-24 437.072 678.215 1115.287 -241.143 341.107 178.324 519.431 +162.783 -78.360

Principal Trading Partners

The following table details India's major trading partners, ranked by total trade volume (exports plus imports) for the financial year 2023-24. It highlights the export and import values in billions of US dollars and the resulting trade balance for each partner.

Top Trading Partners (FY 2023-24)

India's Largest Trading Partners (FY 2023-24)
Rank Country Exports (Billion US$) Imports (Billion US$) Total Trade (Billion US$) Trade Balance (Billion US$)
- GCC 56.32 105.49 161.82 -49.17
- European Union 75.93 59.38 135.31 16.55
- ASEAN 41.21 79.67 120.88 -38.46
1 United States 88.02 43.01 130.3 45.01
2 China 16.66 101.75 118.41 -85.09
3 United Arab Emirates 35.63 48.02 83.65 -12.39
4 Russia 4.26 61.43 65.69 -57.17
5 Saudi Arabia 11.56 31.81 43.37 -20.25
6 Singapore 14.41 21.20 35.61 -6.79
7 Iraq 3.35 30.00 33.35 -26.65
8 Indonesia 5.99 23.41 29.40 -17.42
9 Hong Kong 8.24 20.45 28.69 -12.21
10 South Korea 6.42 21.14 27.56 -14.72
11 Netherlands 22.37 4.97 27.34 17.40
12 Germany 9.84 16.27 26.11 -6.43
13 Australia 7.94 16.16 24.10 -8.22
14 Japan 5.16 17.70 22.86 -12.54
15 Switzerland 1.53 21.24 22.77 -19.71
16 United Kingdom 12.92 8.42 21.34 4.50
17 Malaysia 7.26 12.75 20.01 -5.49
18 South Africa 8.71 10.54 19.25 -1.83
19 Belgium 7.84 7.24 15.08 0.60
20 Thailand 5.04 9.91 14.95 -4.87
21 Vietnam 5.47 9.35 14.81 -3.86
22 Italy 8.77 5.80 14.56 2.97
23 Qatar 1.70 12.38 14.08 -10.68
24 France 7.14 6.24 13.38 0.90
25 Bangladesh 11.06 1.84 12.91 9.22
- Remaining Countries 130.33 114.64 244.97 15.69
India's Total 437.11 675.43 1112.54 -238.32

Key Export Destinations

India's export strategy focuses on key global markets. The following table outlines the top ten countries receiving Indian exports, detailing the value in billions of US dollars and their respective share of India's overall exports for the financial year 2024-25.

Top Export Partners (FY 2024-25)

Rank Country Value (US$ billion) Share of Overall Exports
1 United States 76.38 17.73%
2 United Arab Emirates 33.26 8.15%
3 Netherlands 21.01 5.12%
4 United Kingdom 13.17 2.96%
5 China 12.74 3.81%
6 Singapore 12.11 3.30%
7 Saudi Arabia 10.78 2.65%
8 Bangladesh 10.43 2.53%
9 Germany 9.51 2.25%
10 Australia 7.79 2.01%

Primary Import Sources

India relies on several key nations for its imports. The table below presents the top ten countries from which India sources its goods, detailing the import value in billions of US dollars and their percentage share of India's total imports for the financial year 2024-25.

Top Import Partners (FY 2024-25)

Rank Country Value (US$ billion) Share of Overall Imports
1 China 103.78 15.06%
2 Russia 58.29 9.10%
3 United Arab Emirates 55.75 7.11%
4 United States 41.62 6.04%
5 Saudi Arabia 26.82 4.71%
6 Iraq 26.14 4.44%
7 Switzerland 21.06 3.14%
8 Indonesia 20.99 3.47%
9 Singapore 19.48 3.14%
10 South Korea 19.42 3.13%

India's Role in Global Trade

Examining the countries where India holds a dominant position as a primary trading partner provides further insight into the intricate web of global commerce.

Exports to India: Key Partners

This data, based on 2017 figures, indicates countries for which India represents a significant portion of their export market.

Exports from these countries to India (Percentage of their Exports)
Region Percentage
Bhutan 95.3%
Guinea-Bissau 67.1%
Afghanistan 56.5%
Nepal 53.1%
Nigeria 30.6%
Mozambique 28.1%
Ghana 23.8%
Tanzania 21.8%
Iraq 21.2%
United Arab Emirates 10.1%

Imports from India: Key Partners

Conversely, this data highlights countries that rely heavily on India for their imports, based on 2017 figures.

Imports by these countries from India (Percentage of their Imports)
Region Percentage
Bhutan 89.5%
Nepal 70.2%
Sri Lanka 22.0%
Burundi 18.5%
Mauritius 17.9%
Tanzania 16.5%

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the List of largest trading partners of India Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This document has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence, synthesizing information from publicly available data sources, including Wikipedia and official government reports. It is intended solely for educational and informational purposes.

This is not financial or economic advice. The data presented herein is based on specific reporting periods and may not reflect the most current economic conditions. Fluctuations in global markets, geopolitical events, and policy changes can significantly impact trade dynamics. Users should not rely solely on this information for making investment or business decisions.

Always consult official, up-to-date reports from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Reserve Bank of India, and other relevant governmental bodies, or consult with qualified economic and trade professionals for accurate and timely insights.

The creators of this content are not liable for any errors, omissions, or actions taken based on the information provided.