The value of bilateral trade between India and China was worth about *** billion U.S. dollars in 2023. India-China bilateral trade has rapidly expanded, propelling China to become India's largest goods trading partner.

China accounted for an average of ** percent in imports supporting select industries in India in financial year 2019. Electrical machinery and equipment accounted for the highest in that time period at ** percent. Plastics, on the other hand acquired ** percent of imports from China that year. India depended on China for a variety of products spread across multiple industries.

Trade relationship between India and China

The trade relationship between the two major global economies started a few decades ago. However, India has had an unfavorable trade balance with China as the trade deficit gap has widened over the years. The Indian food product imports has struggled and it is evident in its decreased value since 2008. In 2019, China was India’s leading import partner. For the same year, China was also the second leading export partner of India.

India’s export value

India exported a variety of products to a long list of countries in the world. In 2019, engineering goods valued at more than ************* Indian rupees was the leading commodity exported by India. The economic slowdown in 2019 and the current lockdown during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected industrial production across all sectors. Following this, the country's exports saw a drastic decline in various products.

China Exports to India was US$120.46 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. China Exports to India - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on July of 2025.

India's trade deficit with China was over *** billion U.S. dollars in 2022. The value of bilateral trade between the two countries was worth more than *** billion U.S. dollars for the same year. India-China bilateral trade has rapidly expanded, propelling China to become India's largest goods trading partner.

This paper examines the effect of increased import competition and export demand on local labour markets in the context of India's trading relationship with China. Using an instrumental variables approach, I find that Indian districts exposed to Chinese imports experience decreased manufacturing employment growth relative to their positive pre-existing trend with no offsetting adjustment in services employment or population. The negative employment effect of imports is greater for large establishments. On average, manufacturing employment does not grow in response to export demand shocks, but districts with sufficient development, density, or access to Chinese markets see increased manufacturing employment in response to Chinese export demand.

Exports to China in India decreased to 128.83 INR Billion in January from 138.83 INR Billion in December of 2023. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for India Exports to China.

Key information about India Total Exports to China

• India Total Exports to China recorded 1.264 USD bn in Feb 2025, compared with 1.057 USD bn in the previous month
• India Total Exports to China data is updated monthly, available from Aug 1981 to Feb 2025, with an averaged value of 180.450 USD mn
• The data reached an all-time high of 3.503 USD bn in Dec 2010 and a record low of 0.006 USD mn in Aug 1989

CEIC extends history for monthly Total Exports to China. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry provides Total Exports to China, FOB, in USD. Total Exports to China prior to October 2002 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.

China plans to boost imports from India to address trade imbalance, as bilateral trade reaches $101.7 billion. This initiative coincides with US tariff announcements and aims to strengthen Sino-Indian relations.

India Imports: China: Misc Articles of Base Metal data was reported at 420.600 USD mn in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 322.540 USD mn for 2017. India Imports: China: Misc Articles of Base Metal data is updated yearly, averaging 57.380 USD mn from Mar 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 420.600 USD mn in 2018 and a record low of 0.810 USD mn in 1997. India Imports: China: Misc Articles of Base Metal data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.JAC005: Foreign Trade: Harmonized System 2 Digits: China.

India Exports to China was US$14.9 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. India Exports to China - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on July of 2025.

India Imports: China: Rubber & Articles data was reported at 338.480 USD mn in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 373.450 USD mn for 2017. India Imports: China: Rubber & Articles data is updated yearly, averaging 148.640 USD mn from Mar 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 373.450 USD mn in 2017 and a record low of 1.610 USD mn in 1997. India Imports: China: Rubber & Articles data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.JAC005: Foreign Trade: Harmonized System 2 Digits: China.

India Imports: China: Mfg of Straw data was reported at 1.900 USD mn in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.560 USD mn for 2017. India Imports: China: Mfg of Straw data is updated yearly, averaging 0.800 USD mn from Mar 2000 (Median) to 2018, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.530 USD mn in 2013 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in 2000. India Imports: China: Mfg of Straw data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.JAC005: Foreign Trade: Harmonized System 2 Digits: China.

India Imports: China: Inorganic Chemicals data was reported at 667.050 USD mn in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 542.360 USD mn for 2017. India Imports: China: Inorganic Chemicals data is updated yearly, averaging 343.825 USD mn from Mar 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 776.640 USD mn in 2012 and a record low of 43.600 USD mn in 1997. India Imports: China: Inorganic Chemicals data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.JAC005: Foreign Trade: Harmonized System 2 Digits: China.

1644 India export shipment records of Parts frame to China with prices, volume & current Buyer's suppliers relationships based on actual India export trade database.

The highest value of imports in India came from China valued at around *** billion U.S. dollars in fiscal year 2024. This was followed by Russia with an import value of about ** billion U.S. dollars during the same year.

China Export: Year to Date: Asia: India data was reported at 228,298.223 RMB mn in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 150,799.016 RMB mn for Feb 2025. China Export: Year to Date: Asia: India data is updated monthly, averaging 251,622.006 RMB mn from Jan 2014 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 135 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 857,360.019 RMB mn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 29,066.606 RMB mn in Jan 2014. China Export: Year to Date: Asia: India data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Administration of Customs. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s International Trade – Table CN.JA: RMB: Trade by Country: ytd.

5 India export shipment records of 2933 to China with prices, volume & current Buyer's suppliers relationships based on actual India export trade database.

5339 India export shipment records of Third, Party to China with prices, volume & current Buyer's suppliers relationships based on actual India export trade database.

High Frequency Indicator: The dataset contains year- and month-wise historically compiled data from the year 2007 to till date on the India's top 25 trading countries with trading of goods by import and export, along with details of country-wise value, both in indian rupees and u.s. dollars, of imports, exports and trade balance.

India Imports: China: Preparations of Vegetables, Fruit, Nuts data was reported at 18.440 USD mn in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 14.270 USD mn for 2017. India Imports: China: Preparations of Vegetables, Fruit, Nuts data is updated yearly, averaging 7.045 USD mn from Mar 1999 (Median) to 2018, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.440 USD mn in 2018 and a record low of 0.230 USD mn in 2001. India Imports: China: Preparations of Vegetables, Fruit, Nuts data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.JAC005: Foreign Trade: Harmonized System 2 Digits: China.