Top Indian Exports & Imports

Zinc, sugar & steel are the fastest growing Indian exports to the U.S. while military products, artwork & antiques are leading imports into India from America.

India exported US$21.8 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2006, up 16.1% from 2005 and up 84.7% in just 4 years.

Indian imports from the U.S. rose 26.3% to $10.1 billion in 2006, up 146% since 2002.

In terms of the merchandise flow between the two countries, America’s trade deficit with India was $11.7 billion in 2006, up 52% from 2002. The U.S. trade deficit with India increased 8.5% in 2006 – down from the 14.3% deficit increase in 2005 from the year earlier.

Indian Exports to U.S.

Of the $21.8 billion in American imports from India in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Cotton household furnishings & clothing …US$3.5 billion (16.1% of India to U.S. exports, up 13.5% from 2005)
2. Diamonds … $3.3 billion (14.9%, up 5.8%)
3. Jewellery (e.g. watches, rings) … $2.4 billion (11.1%, up 37.4%)
4. Medicinal, dental and pharmaceutical preparations … $799.2 million (3.7%, up 47.7%)
5. Semi-finished iron & steel products … $735.3 million (3.4%, up 101.1%)
6. Non-cotton household furnishings & clothing … $668.6 million (3.1%, down 14%)
7. Textile floor coverings (e.g. rugs) … $602.5 million (2.8%, up 11.9%)
8. Industrial machinery … $431.2 million (2.0%, up 25.6%)
9. Industrial organic chemicals … $398.5 million (1.8%, up 19.9%)
10. Generators, transformers & accessories ... $398 million (1.8%, up 144%)

Fastest-Growing Indian Exports to U.S.

Below are American imports from India in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Zinc … US$42.4 million (up a staggering 51,000% from 2005)
2. Sugar … $3.1 million (up 25,400%)
3. Steelmaking materials … $3.3 million (up 286%)
4. Precious metals … $12.4 million (up 226%)
5. Rubber … $11.3 million (up 192%)

Indian Imports from U.S.

Of the $10.1 billion in American exports to India in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Civilian aircraft … US$1.4 billion (14.1% of India from U.S. imports, up 169.6% from 2005)
2. Diamonds … $621.2 million (6.2%, up 33%)
3. Chemical fertilizers … $608 million (6.0%, up 25.5%)
4. Telecommunications equipment … $486 million (4.8%, up 4.9%)
5. Organic chemicals … $410.4 million (4.1%, up 10.5%)
6. Other petroleum products … $336.8 million (3.3%, up 55.7%)
7. Computer accessories … $311 million (3.1%, up 19%)
8. Jewellery … $285.5 million (2.8%, up 31.5%)
9. Medicinal equipment … $259.4 million (2.6%, up 17.3%)
10. Industrial machines … $251.1 million (2.5%, up 21.5%)

Fastest-Growing Indian Imports from U.S.

Below are American exports to India in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Military vehicles … US$11.6 million (up 232,000% from 2005)
2. Military clothing & footwear … $30.1 million (up 68,000%)
3. Collectibles (e.g. artwork, antiques, stamps) … $43.2 million (up 513.5%)
4. Engines for military aircraft … $13.1 million (up 281.9%)
5. Civilian aircraft … $1.4 billion (up 169.6%)

Sources for this Article

This article presents independent calculations and insights based on data drawn from the CIA World Factbook and the U.S. Census Bureau – Foreign Trade Statistics.

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