Explore India's foreign trade, its economic impact, growth trends, major partners and milestones
India's economic history has been inseparably linked to foreign trade, featuring a rich tapestry of trade routes, colonial influences, and economic reforms that have shaped the nation's story over the centuries. From ancient times along the Silk Road to the contemporary era, trade has played a dramatic role in India's economic evolution, a trend that continues today. Take 2018–when nearly half of India's GDP came from foreign trade, accounting for 48.8 percent.
Over the years, India has significantly expanded its trade relations, exporting approximately 7,500 commodities to about 190 countries and importing around 6,000 commodities from 140 countries. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, total merchandise and services exports in FY 2024-25 began with a strong growth of 6.03 percent, estimated at $602.64 billion in April-December 2024 compared to $568.36 billion in April-December 2023.
The Government of India has implemented several measures to improve exports and trade performance, like rolling out the New Foreign Trade Policy 2023-28. It has also launched initiatives like the Common Digital Platform for issuing certificates of origin and the Districts as Export Hubs program, which aims to pinpoint products with export potential in each district. These efforts, along with Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti programs and Make in India, support India's global trade standing and fuel economic growth by increasing exports overall.
Here is the data for India's foreign trade in the first quarter of FY25 (April-Dec 2024) sourced from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
April-December 2024 (USD billion) | April-December 2023 (USD billion) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Merchandise | Exports | 321.71 | 316.65 |
Imports | 532.48 | 506.39 | |
Services | Exports | 280.94 | 251.71 |
Imports | 149.67 | 131.64 | |
Total Trade (Merchandise + Services) Exports | Exports | 602.64 | 568.36 |
Imports | 682.15 | 638.03 | |
Trade Balance | -79.50 | -69.67 |
Below is India's historical foreign trade data from FY 2001 to FY 2024, sourced from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.