The Republic of India imported US$368 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -23.2% from $478.9 billion in 2019.
This article presents a quick reference snapshot of India’s main imported products categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.
Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to India’s most valuable imports during 2020 for each of India’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for well over half (55.9%) of India’s import purchases.
Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Indian imports and each of the top supplier countries.
India’s Main Imports from China
India shares its second-longest land border with China (after Bangladesh). This geography proximity facilitates trade between the neighboring Asian countries.
In 2020, China’s exports to India amounted to $58.8 billion or 16% of overall Indian imports.
That dollar amount represents a -14% drop compared to 2019.
By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 87% of India’s imports from mainland China.
- Electronic equipment: $17.8 billion
- Machinery: $12.4 billion
- Organic chemicals: $8.2 billion
- Plastics: $2.2 billion
- Fertilizers: $1.7 billion
- Medical, technical equipment: $1.6 billion
- Other chemical goods: $1.24 billion
- Iron or steel products: $1.23 billion
- Vehicles: $1.2 billion
- Iron and steel: $835.1 million
- Aluminum: $670.9 million
- Inorganic chemicals: $620 million
- Furniture, lighting, signs: $572.2 million
- Tanning, dyeing extracts: $520.8 million
- Man-made filaments: $446.3 million
The sole increase from 2019 to 2020 was for Indian imports from China under the medical or technical product category via an 8% gain in revenue.
Posting the severest declines among India’s top 15 imported products were furniture, lighting and signs (down -40.9%), aluminum (down -35.3%), iron and steel materials (down -33.8%), products made from iron or steel (down -27.2%), plastics as a material (down -23.3%), inorganic chemicals (down -21.6%), fertilizers (down -19.9%), man-made filaments (down -19%) and machinery (down -10.8%).
India’s Main Imports from the US
In 2020, the United States of America’s exports to India amounted to $26.6 billion or 7.2% of overall Indian imports.
That dollar amount represents a -23.8% drop compared to 2019.
By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.6% of India’s imports from the United States.
- Mineral fuels including oil: $6.9 billion
- Gems, precious metals: $4.5 billion
- Machinery: $2.8 billion
- Electronic equipment: $1.6 billion
- Organic chemicals: $1.5 billion
- Medical, technical equipment: $1.2 billion
- Plastics: $1.1 billion
- Fruits, nuts: $895.9 million
- Other chemical goods: $827 million
- Aluminum: $476.3 million
- Woodpulp: $468.2 million
- Inorganic chemicals: $458.4 million
- Iron and steel: $395.9 million
- Vehicles: $321.8 million
- Beverages: $308 million
The only increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indian imports from the US under the fruits and nuts (up 4.9%) and beverages (up 2.3%) product categories.
Posting the severest declines among India’s top 15 imported products were machinery (down -36.1%), woodpulp (down -34.8%), gems and precious metals (down -33.8%), electronic equipment (down -29.7%), iron and steel as materials (down -24.2%), medical or technical equipment (down -19.6%) then organic chemicals (down -17.4%) and mineral fuels including oil (down -17%).
India’s Main Imports from the UAE
In 2020, United Arab Emirates’ exports to India amounted to $23.9 billion or 6.5% of overall Indian imports.
That dollar amount represents a -21.1% drop compared to 2019.
By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 97.1% of India’s imports from the UAE.
- Mineral fuels including oil: $11.9 billion
- Gems, precious metals: $6.8 billion
- Plastics: $737.6 million
- Ships, boats: $723.6 million
- Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $528.6 million
- Copper: $479.1 million
- Iron and steel: $386.3 million
- Machinery: $310.2 million
- Aluminum: $284.3 million
- Fruits, nuts: $255.5 million
- Fertilizers: $252.9 million
- Electronic equipment: $220.5 million
- Organic chemicals: $131.8 million
- Inorganic chemicals: $104 million
- Ores, slag, ash: $59.8 million
Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indian imports from the UAE under the inorganic chemicals product category (up 84.7%), ores, slag and ash (up 77.9%), fruits and nuts (up 24.6%) then ships and boats (up 14.3%).
Posting the severest declines among India’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -37.3%), organic chemicals (down -27.2%), copper (down -26.2%), gems and precious metals (down -22%), mineral fuels including oil (down -19.8%), fertilizers (down -18.5%) and machinery (down -15.4%).
India’s Main Imports from Saudi Arabia
In 2020, Saudi Arabia’s exports to India amounted to $17.7 billion or 4.8% of overall Indian imports.
That dollar amount represents a -34.4% drop compared to 2019.
By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.4% of India’s imports from Saudi Arabia.
- Mineral fuels including oil: $14.7 billion
- Fertilizers: $837.1 million
- Organic chemicals: $731 million
- Plastics: $518.5 million
- Inorganic chemicals: $208.9 million
- Aluminum: $197.2 million
- Other chemical goods: $136.7 million
- Copper: $111.4 million
- Gems, precious metals: $62.7 million
- Iron and steel: $45.7 million
- Raw hides excluding furskins: $26.7 million
- Woodpulp: $20 million
- Ores, slag, ash: $16.7 million
- Rubber: $14.2 million
- Tanning, dyeing extracts: $13.8 million
The only increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indian imports from Saudi Arabia were under the iron and steel as materials product category (up 11.5%) and inorganic chemicals (up 0.4%).
Posting the severest declines among India’s top 15 imported products were gems and precious metals (down -78.8%), ores, slags and ash (down -73%), tanning and dyeing extracts (down -52.8%), mineral fuels including oil (down -18.6%), woodpulp (down -18.8%), fertilizers (down -18.6%), raw hides excluding furskins (down -16.2%), plastics (down -15.9%) and rubber (down -13.6%).
India’s Main Imports from Iraq
In 2020, Iraq’s exports to India amounted to $16.2 billion or 4.4% of overall Indian imports.
That dollar amount represents a -26.8% drop compared to 2019.
By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.9996% of India’s imports from Iraq.
- Mineral fuels including oil: $16.1 billion
- Fruits, nuts: $73.8 million
- Ships, boats: $20.8 million
- Other chemical goods: $1.2 million
- Raw hides excluding furskins: $944,000
- Wool: $426,000
- Machinery: $98,000
- Fertilizers: $67,000
- Medical, technical equipment: $33,000
- Iron or steel products: $22,000
- Electronic equipment: $6,000
- Base metal tools, cutlery: $2,000
- Vehicles: $2,000
- Other manufactured products: $2,000
- Rubber: $2,000
Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indian imports from Iraq under the ships and boats product category (up 7,314%), fertilizers (up 1,575%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 588.2%), medical or technical equipment (up 200%), products made from iron or steel (up 175%) and machinery (up 139%).
Posting the severest declines among India’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -95.6%), raw hides excluding furskins (down -47.2%) and mineral fuels including oil (down -27%).
India’s Main Imports from Hong Kong
In 2020, Hong Kong’s exports to India amounted to $14.6 billion or 4% of overall Indian imports.
That dollar amount represents a -16.1% drop compared to 2019.
By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.5% of India’s imports from Hong Kong.
- Electronic equipment: $7.2 billion
- Gems, precious metals: $4.2 billion
- Machinery: $1.5 billion
- Medical, technical equipment: $304.1 million
- Plastics: $241.6 million
- Organic chemicals: $141.9 million
- Woodpulp: $79.8 million
- Aluminum: $76.4 million
- Clocks, watches: $58.6 million
- Iron and steel: $53 million
- Mineral fuels including oil: $50 million
- Iron or steel products: $42 million
- Other chemical goods: $40.6 million
- Special woven/tufted fabric: $39.8 million
- Other base metal goods: $37.1 million
Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indian imports from Hong Kong under the medical or technical product category (up 32.2%), machinery (up 17.9%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 10.8%).
Posting the severest declines among India’s top 15 imported products were clocks and watches (down -54.1%), iron or steel as materials (down -51.5%), mineral fuels including oil (down -45.8%), aluminum (down -44.5%) and special woven or tufted fabric (down -43.2%).
India’s Main Imports from Singapore
In 2020, Singapore’s exports to India amounted to $12.3 billion or 3.3% of overall Indian imports.
That dollar amount represents a -17.4% drop compared to 2019.
By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 92.4% of India’s imports from Singapore.
- Electronic equipment: $2.5 billion
- Machinery: $2.2 billion
- Ships, boats: $1.14 billion
- Mineral fuels including oil: $1.11 billion
- Organic chemicals: $938.3 million
- Plastics: $812.3 million
- Medical, technical equipment: $732.4 million
- Gems, precious metals: $512.4 million
- Other chemical goods: $341.9 million
- Iron and steel: $288.1 million
- Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $223.4 million
- Rubber: $202 million
- Vehicles: $137.9 million
- Iron or steel products: $103.5 million
- Tanning, dyeing extracts: $88.3 million
Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indian imports from Singapore under the iron and steel product category (up 70.3%) then gems and precious metals (up 1.9%).
Posting the severest declines among India’s top 15 imported products were tanning and dyeing extracts (down -37.4%), vehicles (down -36.7%), iron and steel as materials (down -35.2%), mineral fuels including oil (down -28.7%), plastics (down -28.3%), rubber (down -28%), organic chemicals (down -26.4%) then products made from iron or steel (down -25.7%).
India’s Main Imports from South Korea
In 2020, South Korea’s exports to India amounted to $12.2 billion or 3.3% of overall Indian imports.
That dollar amount represents a -24.5% drop compared to 2019.
By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.6% of India’s imports from South Korea.
- Electronic equipment: $2.3 billion
- Machinery: $1.6 billion
- Iron and steel: $1.5 billion
- Plastics: $1.3 billion
- Vehicles: $766.9 million
- Organic chemicals: $765.9 million
- Mineral fuels including oil: $643 million
- Other chemical goods: $354.5 million
- Medical, technical equipment: $325.4 million
- Pharmaceuticals: $275.7 million
- Iron or steel products: $259 million
- Zinc: $235.1 million
- Rubber: $224.2 million
- Base metal tools, cutlery: $176.8 million
- Inorganic chemicals: $144.8 million
The only increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indian imports from South Korea under the pharmaceuticals product category (up 652.8%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 62.6%).
Posting the severest declines among India’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -39.4%), organic chemicals (down -36.3%), machinery (down -30%), inorganic chemicals (down -29.3%), medical or technical equipment (down -28.1%), products made from iron or steel (down -27.1%) then tools or cutlery made from base metal (down -26.6%).
India’s Main Imports from Indonesia
In 2020, Indonesia’s exports to India amounted to $12 billion or 3.3% of overall Indian imports.
That dollar amount represents a -22.8% drop compared to 2019.
By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.2% of India’s imports from Indonesia.
- Mineral fuels including oil: $5.1 billion
- Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $3.3 billion
- Other chemical goods: $352.8 million
- Fertilizers: $274 million
- Iron and steel: $248.9 million
- Ores, slag, ash: $246 million
- Rubber: $232.8 million
- Inorganic chemicals: $174.5 million
- Organic chemicals: $150.5 million
- Machinery: $146.1 million
- Tin: $132 million
- Electronic equipment: $122.8 million
- Coffee, tea, spices: $122.2 million
- Wood: $118.1 million
- Soaps, lubricants, candles: $115.1 million
Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indian imports from Indonesia under the ores, slag and ash product category (up 162.8%), soaps, lubricants and candles (up 39.2%), fertilizers (up 28.8%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 22.6%) coffee, tea and spices (up 9.4%).
Posting the severest declines among India’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel (down -69.5%), inorganic chemicals (down -43.8%), organic chemicals (down -32%), mineral fuels including oil (down -28.8%) then electronic equipment (down -27.4%).
India’s Main Imports from Switzerland
In 2020, Switzerland’s exports to India amounted to $11.3 billion or 3.1% of overall Indian imports.
That dollar amount represents a -36.2% drop compared to 2019.
By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 98.3% of India’s imports from Switzerland.
- Gems, precious metals: $9.5 billion
- Pharmaceuticals: $347.8 million
- Machinery: $250 million
- Medical, technical equipment: $211.1 million
- Mineral fuels including oil: $173.3 million
- Electronic equipment: $137.7 million
- Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $133.4 million
- Organic chemicals: $131 million
- Clocks, watches: $105.2 million
- Other chemical goods: $43.8 million
- Plastics: $37.8 million
- Iron and steel: $32.9 million
- Perfumes, cosmetics: $19 million
- Modified starches, enzymes: $15.4 million
- Iron or steel products: $14.6 million
A trio of increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indian imports from Switzerland under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category (up 27.7%), pharmaceuticals (up 19.4%) and modified starches or enzymes (up 14.6%).
Posting the severest declines among India’s top 15 imported products were perfumes and cosmetics (down -38.6%), gems and precious metals (up down -38.4%), plastics as a material (down -37.1%), iron and steel as materials (down -34.3%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (down -34.2%), clocks and watches (down -31.1%), medical or technical equipment (down -28.2%), machinery (down -27.1%) then mineral fuels including oil (down -20.1%).
See also
More great research: World’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, US Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, India’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, Sri Lanka’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries
References
Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.
International Trade Centre, Trade Map.
Wikipedia, India, Borders of India.
World’s Top Exports, Import News.