What Does India Export and Import Country-Wise?

Key Exports and Destinations

India exports around 7,500 commodities to approximately 192 countries. In FY 2023-24, total exports (merchandise and services) reached USD 778.21 billion. Here are some top destinations and what India sends them:

United States (USD 85.5B in 2023): The U.S. is India’s largest export market. Key exports include pharmaceuticals (like packaged medicaments), gems and jewelry (especially diamonds), textiles, and IT services. In FY24, exports slightly dipped to USD 77.5B, but the U.S. remains a priority.

United Arab Emirates (USD 28.8B): Refined petroleum, gems, and jewelry dominate here, with trade boosted by the India-UAE free trade agreement.

China (USD 18.1B): Exports grew by 8.7% in FY24 to USD 16.67B, featuring iron ore, cotton yarn, spices, and fruits/vegetables.

Germany (USD 15B): Engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and textiles are key exports.

United Kingdom (USD 14.4B): Textiles, machinery, and pharmaceuticals lead the pack.

India’s top merchandise exports globally include refined petroleum (USD 55.8B), packaged medicaments (USD 23.6B), diamonds (USD 21B), broadcasting equipment (USD 20.7B), and jewelry (USD 13.1B). Services exports, like IT and business outsourcing, hit USD 341.1B in FY24.

Key Imports and Sources

India imports around 6,000 commodities from 140 countries, with total imports in FY24 at USD 675.44B. Here’s where India sources its major imports:

China (USD 125B): The biggest import partner, supplying electronics (telecom parts, smartphones, laptops), industrial machinery, chemicals, and plastics. Imports rose 3.24% to USD 101.7B in FY24.

Russia (USD 66.1B): Crude petroleum dominates, especially since India ramped up imports post-2022 geopolitical shifts.

United States (USD 41.4B): Imports include crude oil, aircraft, medical devices, and agricultural goods like almonds. FY24 saw a 20% drop to USD 40.8B.

United Arab Emirates (USD 38.2B): Gold, petroleum products, and pearls/precious stones are major imports.

Saudi Arabia (USD 34.8B): Crude petroleum and petroleum gas top the list.

India’s top imports globally include crude petroleum (USD 140B), gold (USD 45B), coal briquettes (USD 39B), petroleum gas (USD 24.8B), and integrated circuits (USD 18.6B).

Trade Balance and Trends for 2025

India typically runs a trade deficit—USD 20.3B in December 2024 alone—due to heavy reliance on imported energy and tech. In FY24, exports grew marginally by 0.23% to USD 778.21B, while imports dropped 5.66% to USD 675.44B. For 2025, projections suggest exports could near USD 800B, driven by sectors like electronics and pharmaceuticals, though global uncertainties (e.g., Middle East tensions) pose risks.

Why It Matters

India’s trade reflects its economic strengths (services, gems, pharma) and dependencies (energy, tech). The government aims to diversify exports into new markets like Kenya (iron ore) and South Sudan (pharma) while boosting domestic manufacturing to cut import reliance.

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