India's Trade Overview

INDIA IN WORLD TRADE

TOP EXPORT MARKETS

India’s top 10 export partners over 5 years contributed around 51% of its total exports in 2018. The list of partners and export trends during 2014-2018 are as follows:

India’s total export value (US$ billion)

 20142015201620172018
World317.54264.38260.33295.85323.06
United States of America42.6840.3141.9946.0651.6
United Arab Emirates32.9229.9930.0430.0129
China13.439.588.9212.4916.4
Hong Kong, China13.4112.1513.2115.0213.21
Singapore9.687.817.3511.5710.43
United Kingdom9.678.898.578.969.78
Germany7.757.027.188.248.97
Bangladesh6.265.525.677.218.75
Netherlands6.764.884.875.438.65
Nepal4.193.204.535.527.29

Source: ITC Trade Map

India exports to USA has shown an increase over the past five years, the major product contributing to the increase are:

• Pharmaceutical products
• Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones.

The export value has increased from 2014-2018 for all the five products.

India exports to US (export value in US$ billion) and share

Product codeProductIndia’s exports to United States of America 
20142015201620172018Share in India’s exports, % (2018)
‘TOTALAll products42.6840.3141.9946.0651.6016
’71Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones8.008.169.939.5710.4826
’30Pharmaceutical products3.844.745.194.585.0235
’84Machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors, boilers; parts thereof2.031.951.892.733.7118
’27Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation4.522.141.962.243.056
’87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof1.221.441.301.682.8516

Source: ITC Trade Map

India’s exports to China have also shown an increase from US$ 13.43 billion in 2014 to US$ 16.4 billion in 2018. The major items contributing to the export basket to China are ores, slag and ash.

India exports to China (export value in US$ billion) and share

Product codeProductIndia’s exports to China 
20142015201620172018Share in India’s exports, % (2018)
‘TOTALAll products13.439.588.9212.4916.405
’27Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation1.610.600.701.023.096
’29Organic chemicals0.960.870.791.703.0517
52Cotton2.811.991.261.151.4618
’26Ores, slag and ash0.780.441.171.511.1368
’39Plastics and articles thereof0.410.320.270.431.0513

Source: ITC Trade Map

India’s export to UAE has shown a decline from 2014 to 2018 due to decline in exports of:

• Natural or cultured pearls
• Mineral fuels and oils
• Articles of apparel and clothing

There has been small increase in exports of:

• Electrical machinery and equipment
• Ship, boats and floating structures.

India exports to UAE (export value in US$ billion) and share:

Product codeProductIndia’s exports to United Arab of Emirates 
20142015201620172018Share in India’s exports, % (2018)
‘TOTALAll products32.9229.9930.0430.0129.009
’71Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals11.7212.3013.2912.049.8024
27Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances7.214.093.704.576.6814
’85Electrical machinery and equipment and parts0.740.670.760.611.3411
’89Ships, boats and floating structures0.980.791.181.391.3237
’61Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted0.981.641.861.961.0914

Source: ITC Trade Map

India’s export to Hong Kong decreased from US$ 13.41 billion in 2014 to US$ 12.15 billion in 2015 then increased in 2016 and 2017 and then fell to US$ 13.21 billion in 2018.

The main product contributing to this decline is the Natural or cultured pearls and raw hides and skin and leather.

Since natural or cultured pearls contributes 28% in the export basket, it has impacted overall exports from India to Hong Kong.

India exports to Hong Kong (export value in US$ billion) and share

Product codeProductIndia’s exports to Hong Kong 
20142015201620172018Share in India’s exports, % (2018)
‘TOTALAll products13.4112.1513.2115.0213.214
’71Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metal11.9610.9212.0513.6511.3328
’27Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation0.010.030.110.150.611
’85Electrical machinery and equipment and parts0.210.180.190.220.262
’41Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather0.420.310.240.220.1721
’84Machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors, boilers0.070.070.030.060.141

Source: ITC Trade Map

The export to Singapore has shown as decline in exports from US$ 11.57 billion in 2017 to US$ 10.43 billion in 2018 contributed by decline in exports of ships, boats and floating structures, which have the largest share in the export basket followed by mineral fuels and oils.India exports to Singapore (export value in US$ billion) and share

Product codeProductIndia’s exports to Singapore 
20142015201620172018Share in India’s exports, % (2018)
TOTALAll products9.687.817.3511.5710.433
’27Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation5.012.973.486.846.3313
’84Machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors, boilers0.440.370.390.490.703
’71Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals0.500.350.500.560.692
’89Ships, boats and floating structures1.050.850.721.360.6317
’29Organic chemicals0.260.290.320.360.342

Source: ITC Trade Map

India’s exports to United Kingdom were recorded at US$ 9.78 billion in 2018.

The main products in the export basket are machinery and mechanical appliances, apparels and footwear and both have shown a decline in the export value.

There is an increase of exports of machinery and mechanical appliances, pharmaceutical products and natural or cultured pearls.

India exports to United Kingdom (export value in US$ billion) and share

Product codeProductIndia’s exports to United Kingdom 
20142015201620172018Share in India’s exports, % (2018)
‘TOTALAll products9.678.898.578.969.783
’84Machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors, boilers0.700.680.650.921.065
’62Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted0.940.910.850.840.8410
’61Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted0.900.900.830.840.7810
’71Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad 0.480.520.490.460.722
’30Pharmaceutical products0.440.460.460.420.554
’27Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation0.240.010.010.120.501
’87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories0.630.490.630.470.452
’64Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles0.500.480.420.400.4014

Source: ITC Trade Map

India’s exports to Bangladesh have shown an increase from US$ 6.26 billion in 2014 to US$ 8.75 billion in 2018.

Major product exported is cotton, which has shown an increase in exports along with all other products except cereals, which has shown a decline.

India exports to Bangladesh (export value in US$ billion) and share

Product codeProductIndia’s exports to Bangladesh 
20142015201620172018Share in India’s exports, % (2018)
‘TOTALAll products6.265.525.677.218.753
’52Cotton1.651.591.451.742.0425
’87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories0.590.540.660.951.156
’27Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation0.180.150.150.380.862
’84Machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors, boilers0.330.360.450.530.643
’10Cereals0.800.330.040.400.425

Source: ITC Trade Map

India’s exports to Germany have increased from US$ 7.75 billion in 2014 to US$ 8.97 billion in 2018.There has been an increase in export value of machinery and electrical equipment and organic chemicals, while exports of Apparel and clothing accessories have declined.

India exports to Germany (export value in US$ billion) and share

Product codeProductIndia’s exports to Germany 
20142015201620172018Share in India’s exports, % (2018)
‘TOTALAll products7.757.027.188.248.973
’84Machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors, boilers; parts thereof0.610.630.651.171.548
’29Organic chemicals0.600.560.540.550.704
’61Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted0.680.600.610.650.679
’85Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television 0.450.400.400.470.595
’62Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted0.600.520.520.520.486

Source: ITC Trade Map

India exports to Netherlands have increased from US$ 6.76 billion in 2014 to US$ 8.65 billion in 2018.The products listed below have shown an increase in export value especially mineral fuels and oils. Electrical machinery and equipment has shown a decline in exports from 2014 to 2018

India exports to Netherlands (export value in US$ billion) and share

Product codeProductIndia’s exports to Netherlands 
20142015201620172018Share in India’s exports, % (2018)
‘TOTALAll products6.764.884.875.438.653
’27Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral 2.821.291.311.474.279
’29Organic chemicals0.370.400.360.420.523
’61Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted0.210.180.180.220.263
’85Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television 0.340.210.220.230.252
’84Machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors, boilers; parts thereof0.140.170.140.190.231

Source: ITC Trade Map

India’s exports to Nepal have witnessed a strong increased from US$ 4.19 billion in 2014 to US$ 7.29 billion in 2018.

Iron and steel is the heaviest product in the export basket to Nepal.

All 5 major products have shown an increase in export value over the years.

India exports to Nepal (export value in US$ billion) and share

Product codeProductIndia’s exports to Nepal 
20142015201620172018Share in India’s exports, % (2018)
‘TOTALAll products4.193.204.535.527.292
’27Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral 1.240.750.761.191.744
’72Iron and steel0.500.320.510.761.1812
’87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof0.380.360.740.650.724
’84Machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors, boilers; parts thereof0.220.200.370.510.653
’10Cereals0.260.250.290.330.395

Source: ITC Trade Map

Some important takeaways on India’s exports are as follows:

• USA, UAE, China, Hong Kong and Singapore are the major export destinations.
• UAE and Singapore is the main countries for export of Mineral fuels and oils
• Natural or cultured pearls the major destinations are Hong Kong, USA and UAE
• India’s major exports of Machinery and mechanical appliance and Vehicles, Electrical machinery and equipment, Apparels and Pharmaceutical products are destined to USA
• China is the country which has largest share in India’s export of organic chemicals followed by USA.
• Cotton majorly exported to Bangladesh while Iron and Steel to Nepal

India top 10 products exported (export value in US$ billion) and shares

CodeProduct label20142015201620172018India’s share in world exports (2018)Major Exporting CountriesShare of exporting Countries (2018)
‘TOTALAll products318264.4260295.93231.7USA, UAE, China, Hong Kong Singapore16, 9, 5.1, 4.1, 3.2
’27Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation62.431.3927.735.948.32UAE, Singapore, Netherlands13.8, 13.1, 8.8
’71Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals40.738.4942.342.5740.16.4Hong Kong, USA, UAE28.3, 26.1, 24.4
’84Machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors, boilers13.613.2313.616.6520.40.9USA, Germany, UK18.2, 7.6, 5.2
’87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories14.514.081516.2318.21.2USA, Mexico, Bangladesh15.6, 9.4, 6.3
’29Organic chemicals1211.311.313.5717.74China, USA17.2, 10.1
’30Pharmaceutical products11.6612.5413.0412.9014.282.4USA, UK, South Africa35.2, 3.8, 3.8
’85Electrical machinery and equipment9.007.948.228.8011.790.4USA,UAE, Germany14.1, 11, 4.5
’72Iron and steel9.086.316.4411.709.982.4Nepal. Italy, UAE11, 8.1, 6.8
’52Cotton8.887.476.266.908.1313.8Bangladesh, China Pakistan25, 18, 9.4
’62Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted9.069.359.058.988.133.4USA,UK, UAE26.6, 10.3, 9.9

Source: ITC Trade Map

India’s export value of top 5 products in US$ billion

Source: Data used from ITC Trade Map

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