India has become a major exporter of various products to countries around the world. From agricultural goods to manufactured products, India supplies many in-demand items to importers globally.
In this post, we will look at the top 30 most imported products from India based on total import value and share of India’s exports. Understanding the top exports provides insight into India’s strongest sectors as well as the supply chains of major importers.
Overview of India’s Exports
India’s total annual export values have rapidly grown over the past decade. From $275 billion in 2011 to over $670 billion in 2022, India has emerged as a key supplier in global trade.
The country’s main export sectors include:
- Gems and jewelry
- Engineering goods
- Petroleum products
- Pharmaceuticals
- Chemical products
- Textiles and garments
- Agricultural products like rice, tea, spices
- Iron and steel
India’s top export destinations are the United States, United Arab Emirates, China, and Hong Kong.
Now let’s dive into the most imported products from India by trade value and contribution to India’s total exports.
1. Refined Petroleum Oil – $46 billion
Refined petroleum oil, which includes products like diesel fuel and gasoline, is India’s most valuable exported product. With the sheer scale of India’s oil refinery infrastructure to handle imported crude petroleum, the country is a net exporter of refined petroleum oils.
- Total Export Value: $46 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 7%
- Top Importers: Singapore, Netherlands, USA
2. Diamonds – $23 billion
India is a global hub for diamond processing and polishing. While India’s natural diamond reserves are relatively small, major mining companies rely on Indian facilities and craftsmen to prepare raw diamonds for retail markets around the world.
- Total Export Value: $23 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 3.5%
- Top Importers: UAE, Hong Kong, Israel
3. Gold
Like diamonds, India plays a major role in manufacturing gold jewelry as well as processing imported gold for distribution. India exports both gold jewelry and bullions.
- Total Export Value: $18.5 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 2.8%
- Top Importers: UAE, Hong Kong, USA
4. Packaged Medicaments
India has become known as the “pharmacy of the developing world” for supplying affordable generic drug formulations globally. India manufactures and exports packaged dosage form medicines.
- Total Export Value: $16.5 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 2.5%
- Top Importers: USA, UK, South Africa
5. Rice
India grows and exports massive quantities of rice each year. Top varieties include basmati and other aromatic long grain rice sought after for specialty cuisines.
- Total Export Value: $9.5 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 1.4%
- Top Importers: Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE
6. Refined Petroleum Gas
In addition to refined oils, India also exports products like propane and butane gas.
- Total Export Value: $9 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 1.3%
- Top Importers: Japan, South Korea, Singapore
7. Light Rubberized Oils
India exports specialty oils made by combining rubber and oil stocks which have applications as fuel additives.
- Total Export Value: $8 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 1.2%
- Top Importers: Malaysia, USA, Korean Republic
8. Buffalo Meat
Water buffalo meat, known as carabeef, is an Indian exported product as the country holds a major world population of buffaloes.
- Total Export Value: $7.7 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 1.2%
- Top Importers: Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt
9. Fresh Vegetables
India grows and exports fresh vegetables, mainly to neighboring regions.
- Total Export Value: $5.5 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.8%
- Top Importers: Bangladesh, Pakistan, UAE
10. Cotton Fabrics
From raw cotton to woven fabrics, India supplies cotton goods globally.
- Total Export Value: $5.3 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.8%
- Top Importers: Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan
11. Tanned Bovine Leather
Hides and skins that are tanned, colored and finished in India for export mainly as inputs for leather products.
- Total Export Value: $5 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.7%
- Top Importers: Vietnam, Germany, Italy
12. Sugar
Another agricultural good exported by India is raw and refined sugar from sugarcane.
- Total Export Value: $4.8 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.7%
- Top Importers: Indonesia, Somalia, Sudan
13. Rice Seeds
India supplies rice seeds for specialty rices grown around the world.
- Total Export Value: $4 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.6%
- Top Importers: Bangladesh, USA, Philippines
14. Soybean Oil
India crushes imported soybeans to produce both soybean meal for crops and soybean oil for cooking.
- Total Export Value: $3.7 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.5%
- Top Importers: Bangladesh, Nepal, Iran
15. Branded Medicaments
Similar to the generic drugs, India also formulates and exports branded packaged medicines through Indian pharmaceutical companies.
- Total Export Value: $3.4 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.5%
- Top Importers: Nigeria, Kenya, Myanmar
16. Groundnuts
Peanut crops occupy millions of acres of farmlands across India. The country exports several peanut variants like groundnuts, peanut oil, peanut butter etc.
- Total Export Value: $3 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.4%
- Top Importers: Indonesia, EU, Nepal
17. Pure Aluminum
India smelts and exports pure aluminum used in electronics, machinery and construction globally.
- Total Export Value: $3 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.4%
- Top Importers: Bangladesh, Turkey, Taiwan
18. Ice Cream
Popular Indian ice cream brands like Amul have expanded abroad, leading to rising ice cream exports.
- Total Export Value: $2.8 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.4%
- Top Importers: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait
19. Textile Floor Coverings
Carpets and other woven floor coverings are made domestically.
- Total Export Value: $2.5 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.4%
- Top Importers: USA, Australia, Germany
20. Granite Flooring Slabs
India has vast granite reserves which are exported as polished stone slabs.
- Total Export Value: $2.3 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.3%
- Top Importers: China, USA, Germany
21. Yarn Fabrics
Exported fabrics before being made into finished garments. Materials like polyester and rayon fabrics.
- Total Export Value: $2.1 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.3%
- Top Importers: Bangladesh, Vietnam, Turkey
22. Jersey Fabrics
Stretchable jersey material woven and dyed broadly as an input fabric.
- Total Export Value: $2 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.3%
- Top Importers: Bangladesh, UK, Portugal
23. Aluminum Scrap
Metal recycling is a major industry in India that generates aluminum scrap for remelting.
- Total Export Value: $2 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.3%
- Top Importers: China, Malaysia, Thailand
24. Dried Onions
Dehydrated onion exports used as ingredients in food processing.
- Total Export Value: $1.8 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.3%
- Top Importers: Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
25. Processed Pet Food
Wet and dry pet food with Indian origins.
- Total Export Value: $1.7 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.2%
- Top Importers: Nepal, USA, Thailand
26. Ferroalloys (Iron Alloys)
Processed metal alloys with iron mixed with other elements.
- Total Export Value: $1.7 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.2%
- Top Importers: South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey
27. Ground Calcium Carbonate
Widely used filler material made by pulverizing limestone.
- Total Export Value: $1.6 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.2%
- Top Importers: Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand
28. Aluminum Castings/Wrought Alloys
Additional aluminum export materials.
- Total Export Value: $1.6 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.2%
- Top Importers: USA, Mexico, Germany
29. Polypropylene Plastics
Widely used thermoplastic polymer materials shaped into pellets.
- Total Export Value: $1.6 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.2%
- Top Importers: Nepal, Bangladesh, China
30. Pepper
The pungent spice peppercorn in its raw and powdered forms.
- Total Export Value: $1.4 billion
- Share of India’s Total Exports: 0.2%
- Top Importers: Vietnam, USA, Malaysia
Here is the completed table for the top 30 products imported from India:
| Sr | Product Name | Total Import Share % | Total Import Value | Top Import Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Refined Petroleum Oil | 7% | $46 billion | Singapore, Netherlands, USA |
| 2 | Diamonds | 3.5% | $23 billion | UAE, Hong Kong, Israel |
| 3 | Gold | 2.8% | $18.5 billion | UAE, Hong Kong, USA |
| 4 | Packaged Medicaments | 2.5% | $16.5 billion | USA, UK, South Africa |
| 5 | Rice | 1.4% | $9.5 billion | Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE |
| 6 | Refined Petroleum Gas | 1.3% | $9 billion | Japan, South Korea, Singapore |
| 7 | Light Rubberized Oils | 1.2% | $8 billion | Malaysia, USA, Korean Republic |
| 8 | Buffalo Meat | 1.2% | $7.7 billion | Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt |
| 9 | Fresh Vegetables | 0.8% | $5.5 billion | Bangladesh, Pakistan, UAE |
| 10 | Cotton Fabrics | 0.8% | $5.3 billion | Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan |
| 11 | Tanned Bovine Leather | 0.7% | $5 billion | Vietnam, Germany, Italy |
| 12 | Sugar | 0.7% | $4.8 billion | Indonesia, Somalia, Sudan |
| 13 | Rice Seeds | 0.6% | $4 billion | Bangladesh, USA, Philippines |
| 14 | Soybean Oil | 0.5% | $3.7 billion | Bangladesh, Nepal, Iran |
| 15 | Branded Medicaments | 0.5% | $3.4 billion | Nigeria, Kenya, Myanmar |
| 16 | Groundnuts | 0.4% | $3 billion | Indonesia, EU, Nepal |
| 17 | Pure Aluminum | 0.4% | $3 billion | Bangladesh, Turkey, Taiwan |
| 18 | Ice Cream | 0.4% | $2.8 billion | Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait |
| 19 | Textile Floor Coverings | 0.4% | $2.5 billion | USA, Australia, Germany |
| 20 | Granite Flooring Slabs | 0.3% | $2.3 billion | China, USA, Germany |
| 21 | Yarn Fabrics | 0.3% | $2.1 billion | Bangladesh, Vietnam, Turkey |
| 22 | Jersey Fabrics | 0.3% | $2 billion | Bangladesh, UK, Portugal |
| 23 | Aluminum Scrap | 0.3% | $2 billion | China, Malaysia, Thailand |
| 24 | Dried Onions | 0.3% | $1.8 billion | Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan |
| 25 | Processed Pet Food | 0.2% | $1.7 billion | Nepal, USA, Thailand |
| 26 | Ferroalloys (Iron Alloys) | 0.2% | $1.7 billion | South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey |
| 27 | Ground Calcium Carbonate | 0.2% | $1.6 billion | Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand |
| 28 | Aluminum Castings/Wrought Alloys | 0.2% | $1.6 billion | USA, Mexico, Germany |
| 29 | Polypropylene Plastics | 0.2% | $1.6 billion | Nepal, Bangladesh, China |
| 30 | Pepper | 0.2% | $1.4 billion | Vietnam, USA, Malaysia |
Conclusion
This covers 30 key products imported from India led by refined oil, diamonds, gold, medicines, rice and more. We can observe distinct export sectors where India adds value such as petroleum refining, cut gemstones, textiles manufacturing and food production. Trends like generics medicines and water buffalo meat additionally showcase India’s strengths catering to overseas demand.
With India’s strong growth rates, we can expect these exported products to continue expanding in the future. The country is cementing itself as a preferred trade partner across economic zones like the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. India also has positive demographic trends fueling both supply and demand sides as a producer and consumer market over the long run.
I hope you found this post useful! Please leave your feedback or any other questions below in the comments section. Thank you!
