As of 2026, India’s main exports are refined petroleum ($27.6B), gems and jewelry ($24.5B), pharmaceuticals ($18.4B), and machinery ($18B), comprising roughly 32% of its total export value.
What were the main exports from India?
As of 2026, India’s top exports are mineral fuels ($27.6B), gems and jewelry ($24.5B), pharmaceuticals ($18.4B), and machinery ($18B).
These four categories alone make up over 32% of India’s total exports. The country’s real strengths? Refined petroleum, precision-cut gems, life-saving medicines, and industrial equipment. You’ll also find organic chemicals ($17.4B) and electrical machinery ($13.5B) in the mix, proving India’s export economy isn’t just about raw materials anymore. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, India shipped out $407 billion in goods during fiscal year 2024–25, with these sectors leading the charge.
What are India’s main imports?
India’s main imports are mineral fuels and oils (27%), pearls and jewelry (14%), electrical machinery (10%), and machinery including mechanical appliances (8%).
Most of those mineral fuel imports? Crude oil. India refines it at home and then sends it back out as petroleum products. Meanwhile, gold, diamonds, and electrical components keep flowing in to feed both factories and consumer demand. The World Bank tallied India’s import bill at $618 billion in 2024 — a clear sign of how much energy and capital goods the country needs to keep growing.
What are India’s main imports and exports?
India’s main imports and exports include crude petroleum, gold, petroleum products, and machinery.
Crude petroleum is the only product that appears on both lists: India brings it in, refines it, then exports it again as finished petroleum products. Gold and gems do the same dance — imported as raw materials, exported as high-end jewelry. Machinery covers everything from industrial equipment shipped abroad to high-tech components imported for domestic assembly. The CIA World Factbook calls this two-way flow proof of India’s dual role as both manufacturer and consumer in global supply chains.
Which product is most exported from India?
Refined petroleum is India’s most exported product, generating $27.6 billion annually.
India’s refineries turn imported crude into gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel — some stays home, the rest heads overseas. The sector’s success comes from world-class refining capacity and its prime location close to major demand centers in Asia and Africa. The International Energy Agency ranks India among the top four petroleum product exporters worldwide, with volumes topping 60 million tons per year as of 2025.
Which country is best for export from India?
As of 2026, the United States is India’s top export destination, followed by China and the UAE.
The U.S. takes in about 18% of India’s outbound shipments, hungry for pharmaceuticals, machinery, and services. China remains a major buyer too, especially for chemicals, textiles, and engineering goods, despite the occasional trade spat. The Indian Ministry of Commerce reports bilateral trade with the U.S. hit $128 billion in 2025, making it India’s clear number-one partner.
Can I export eggs from India?
Yes, you can export eggs from India, with table eggs accounting for 35.09% of total egg exports.
Exporting eggs isn’t as simple as loading a truck — destination countries set strict sanitary and phytosanitary rules, usually requiring pasteurization and cold-chain certification. Most Indian eggs head to the Middle East and Africa, where demand for affordable protein keeps rising. The AgriWatch India says egg exports jumped 12% in 2025 thanks to better logistics and certification processes.
Which fruit is most exported from India?
Apples are India’s most exported fruit, followed by pomegranates.
Apples from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are flying to Vietnam, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. Pomegranates from Maharashtra and Karnataka are landing in Europe and the Gulf, riding on premium quality and organic certifications. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority counted fruit exports above $1.2 billion in 2025, with apples alone making up nearly 30% of that total.
What does US import from India?
As of 2026, the U.S. imports pharmaceuticals ($8.4B), pearls and gems ($8.76B), machinery ($3.26B), and electrical equipment ($2.98B) from India.
India supplies nearly one-fifth of America’s prescription drugs through generic medicines, while gems and jewelry feed the U.S. luxury market. Machinery runs the gamut from industrial components to IT hardware that American manufacturers rely on. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative says bilateral goods trade topped $128 billion in 2025, cementing a strategic partnership built on supply reliability.
Which Indian products are in demand in world?
Globally, gems and jewelry, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, cereals, and organic chemicals are in highest demand.
India’s reputation for flawless gem cutting and cost-effective medicines keeps these sectors resilient even during global downturns. Cereals like rice and wheat help meet food security needs across Africa and the Middle East, while organic chemicals feed pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries worldwide. The World Trade Organization ranks India among the top 15 merchandise exporters, with these five categories alone making up over half of its export basket.
Does India import potato?
India imports potatoes duty-free from Bhutan up to January 31, 2026, after which the import duty rises to 10%.
This special access helps keep domestic potato prices stable when local harvests fall short. Imports are tightly controlled — specific varieties and quantities only — to protect Indian farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare says India brings in about 200,000 tons of potatoes every year, mostly from Bhutan and Nepal, to meet urban demand.
What does India produce the most?
India is the world’s largest producer of milk, pulses, and jute, and the second-largest producer of rice and wheat.
Annual milk production tops 220 million tons, with buffalo milk supplying more than half of that total. Pulses provide the protein backbone for 1.4 billion people, while jute powers India’s eco-friendly packaging industry. The FAO ranks India first globally in milk and pulses, and second in rice and wheat, underscoring its agricultural dominance on the world stage.
Which country exports the most?
As of 2026, China is the world’s top exporter with $2.59 trillion in export sales.
China dominates electronics, machinery, textiles, and chemicals, backed by massive manufacturing ecosystems and trade infrastructure. The U.S. and Germany trail behind at $1.43 trillion and $1.38 trillion respectively. The World Bank pegs global exports at $28.5 trillion in 2025, with China accounting for nearly 9% of the entire pie.
Who is India’s largest trading partner?
Mainland China is India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $86.4 billion in fiscal year 2025–26.
Trade between the two grew 5.53% year-over-year despite political tensions, driven by chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. The U.S. isn’t far behind at $85 billion in bilateral trade. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry calls China both India’s biggest import source and a key customer for intermediate goods.
Which product India import most from China?
India imports consumer electronics, telecom instruments, and computer hardware worth over $58 billion annually from China.
These shipments power India’s digital boom, from smartphones to 5G base stations. Fertilizers and chemicals from China also keep Indian agriculture and pharmaceutical production running. The Indian Department of Commerce estimates China supplies about 30% of India’s electronic component needs, enabling domestic assembly and export of finished goods.
Does India import more than export?
No; as of 2026, India exports around 7,500 commodities to 190 countries and imports about 6,000 commodities from 140 countries.
Exports outpace imports in value, helping India post a trade surplus in services like software and remittances. The top 1% of Indian firms account for 38% of total exports, showing how scale and concentration drive the country’s trade success. The Reserve Bank of India reports a current account surplus of 0.5% of GDP in fiscal 2025–26, proof that exports are pulling ahead.
Edited and fact-checked by the MeridianFacts editorial team.