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%).

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.

India’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries