India recorded a trade deficit of 26.49 USD Billion in August of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - India Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

In the financial year 2024, India recorded a trade surplus of over ** billion U.S. dollars with its largest trading partner, the United States. Key merchandise exports from India included jewelry, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemicals. However, this trade surplus was projected to decrease to ** billion dollars in the fiscal year 2025.

Graph and download economic data for International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Trade Balance: Commodities for India (XTNTVA01INM667S) from Jan 1990 to Jul 2025 about India, trade, Net, and goods.

In 2024, India's trade deficit of goods amounted to around *** billion U.S. dollars. Balance of trade The trade balance, also called commercial balance or balance of trade, is the difference between the value of a country’s exports and its imports over a certain timespan. If a country exports more goods or services than in imports, the trade balance is positive – a so-called trade surplus. If a country imports more than it exports, the trade balance is in the red – a trade deficit. Among other factors, trade is affected by production, currency exchange rates, and taxes, and of course by the availability of raw materials and prices of goods. India’s trade is in the red The reason for India’s persistent trade deficit is simple: The country imports far more than it exports. India is a very fast-growing economy with the majority of its GDP generated by services, while most of its workforce is employed in agriculture. India’s main imports include chemicals, crude oil, and machinery, while India exports textiles, software, petroleum products, and leather goods. One reason for the increasing trade deficit is the price of crude oil and its rapid economic growth, which means that export trade now needs to catch up to the demand.

Key information about India's Trade Balance

• India's Trade Balance recorded a deficit of 23.0 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with a deficit of 21.9 USD bn in the previous month
• India's Trade Balance data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1957 to Jan 2025, with an averaged value of -420.4 USD mn
• The data reached an all-time high of 709.6 USD mn in Jun 2020 and a record low of -31.8 USD bn in Nov 2024

• In the latest reports, India's Total Exports reached 36.4 USD bn in Jan 2025, an increase of 14.5% YoY (year-on-year)
• Total Imports recorded 59.4 USD bn in Jan 2025, an increase of 14.5% YoY (year-on-year)

United States Trade Balance: India: sa data was reported at -1.908 USD bn in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of -2.040 USD bn for Apr 2018. United States Trade Balance: India: sa data is updated monthly, averaging -1.743 USD bn from Jan 2009 (Median) to May 2018, with 113 observations. The data reached an all-time high of -22.000 USD mn in Aug 2009 and a record low of -2.656 USD bn in Apr 2014. United States Trade Balance: India: sa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.JA010: Trade Statistics: Census Basis: By Country: Trade Balance.

Data and insights on India's Trade Balance - current and historical values on deficit and surplus, top countries, and its economic impact

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.

Graph and download economic data for International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Trade Balance: Commodities for India (XTNTVA01INQ664N) from Q1 1990 to Q2 2025 about India, trade, Net, and goods.

In fiscal year 2025, India's balance of trade with Latin American and Caribbean countries was a deficit of nearly **** billion U.S. dollars. The balance of trade calculates the comparison of exports against imports, determining a surplus (when exports outweigh imports) or a deficit (when imports are more than exports) of trade. The trade balance is also a component of a country's GDP.

In fiscal year 2024, the trade balance to gross domestic product ratio in India declined to *** percent. This was almost the same as compared to the previous fiscal year.

India: Trade balance as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2024 is -2.31 percent, a decline from -2.1 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is -3.07 percent, based on data from 134 countries. Historically, the average for India from 1960 to 2024 is -1.91 percent. The minimum value, -6.72 percent, was reached in 2012 while the maximum of 0.57 percent was recorded in 1976.

India IN: Trade Balance data was reported at -146.771 USD bn in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of -94.459 USD bn for 2016. India IN: Trade Balance data is updated yearly, averaging -2.841 USD bn from Dec 1948 (Median) to 2017, with 70 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 202.360 USD mn in 1972 and a record low of -193.208 USD bn in 2012. India IN: Trade Balance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.IMF.DOT: Trade Balance: by Country: Annual.

IN: Trade Balance: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: American Samoa data was reported at 0.040 USD mn in Dec 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of -0.090 USD mn for Sep 2017. IN: Trade Balance: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: American Samoa data is updated quarterly, averaging 0.018 USD mn from Dec 1972 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 113 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.677 USD mn in Sep 2011 and a record low of -17.330 USD mn in Dec 2006. IN: Trade Balance: Emerging and Developing Economies: Emerging and Developing Asia: American Samoa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.IMF.DOT: Trade Balance: by Country: Quarterly.

In 2024, China was the country with the highest trade surplus, with approximately ****** billion U.S. dollars. The leading trade nations Typically a trade surplus indicates a sign of economic success and a trade deficit indicates an economic weakness. However, if that were true, then the top four, China, Germany, Russia and Netherlands, would be considered the best performing countries in the world. However, this would mean that the United States, Great Britain, India and France would be among the weakest nations considering that they are four countries with the highest trade deficit. In fact, they are leading industrial nations. While China is known for producing and exporting products at a competitive price, it has undervalued its exchange rate in order to promote exports. However, China is now working to reduce its reliance on exports even though they continue to export large and increasing quantities of goods. In the case of Germany, the value of the euro may not be high enough, however growth concerning the value of exports has slowed over the past few years. In contrast, the value of the dollar in the United States may be too high, favoring imports as opposed to exports.

A comprehensive dataset showing India's merchandise and services exports, imports, and trade balance over time, including country-wise trade balances and interactive visualizations.

Historical dataset showing India trade balance by year from 1960 to 2023.

IN: Trade Balance: Advanced Economies: Malta data was reported at 39.430 USD mn in Mar 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 27.090 USD mn for Dec 2017. IN: Trade Balance: Advanced Economies: Malta data is updated quarterly, averaging 0.293 USD mn from Sep 1960 (Median) to Mar 2018, with 205 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 478.549 USD mn in Dec 2011 and a record low of -29.177 USD mn in Dec 2006. IN: Trade Balance: Advanced Economies: Malta data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.IMF.DOT: Trade Balance: by Country: Quarterly.

India Trade Balance: USD: Oil data was reported at -14.110 USD bn in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of -6.078 USD bn for Feb 2025. India Trade Balance: USD: Oil data is updated monthly, averaging -7.544 USD bn from Apr 2011 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 168 observations. The data reached an all-time high of -1.814 USD bn in May 2020 and a record low of -14.481 USD bn in Oct 2024. India Trade Balance: USD: Oil data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Foreign Trade – Table IN.JAA001: Trade in Merchandise.

This layer shows Exports, Imports and Trade Balance in India in US $ (Millions) as per the Economic Survey Report 2024-2025. Data source: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/economicsurvey/doc/stat/tab6.1b.pdfNote:P: ProvisionalFor the years 1956-57, 1957-58, 1958-59 and 1959-60, the data are as per the Fourteenth Report of the Estimates Committee (1971-72) of theerstwhile Ministry of Foreign Trade. This web layer is offered by Esri India, for ArcGIS Online subscribers. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know via content@esri.in